{"license":"CC BY 4.0, attribute as \"edcbest.com\"","generated":"2026-10-27","note":"General information, not legal advice. See https://edcbest.com/method/ for what the verdicts mean.","jurisdictions":[{"id":"au","name":"Australia (national summary)","country":"Australia","region":"oceania","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"There is no national carry law; each state sets its own. In all five states covered, carrying any knife in public needs a lawful excuse (self-defence never counts), and automatic/butterfly knives are prohibited weapons. Imports of knives like flick, assisted-opening and butterfly are controlled federally. Tasmania, ACT and NT not covered.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 Sch 13 (compilation 13 July 2026)","url":"https://www.legislation.gov.au/F1996B03651/2026-07-13/2026-07-13/text/original/epub/OEBPS/document_1/document_1.html","quote":"Automatic knives that have a blade folded or recessed into the handle ... including knives commonly known as flick knives, switchblades or assisted opening knives"},{"title":"ABF: importing weapons","url":"https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/prohibited-goods/weapons","quote":"Importing weapons to Australia"}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic","gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Flick/automatic/butterfly knives are prohibited weapons (permit only) in NSW, Qld and SA, prohibited in Vic, and in WA if made/modified for injury or martial arts. Imports also need permission. See the state entries.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.au/F1996B03651/2026-07-13/2026-07-13/text/original/epub/OEBPS/document_1/document_1.html"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Federal import rules expressly name 'assisted opening knives'; state definitions differ (NSW 'any pressure ... spring', Vic requires a concealed folded blade, WA requires injury intent). No clear national answer; treat as high risk.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.au/F1996B03651/2026-07-13/2026-07-13/text/original/epub/OEBPS/document_1/document_1.html"},{"when":{"form":["scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Scissors without a blade-knife are not a 'knife' in the state statutes read; no specific restriction found. Weapon-intent offences could still apply.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.au/F1996B03651/2026-07-13/2026-07-13/text/original/epub/OEBPS/document_1/document_1.html"},{"when":{},"verdict":"reason","reason":"NSW, Vic, Qld, WA and SA all make carrying a knife in public an offence without lawful excuse/reasonable excuse (work, sport, recreation, etc.); self-defence is never an excuse. Use the state entry for details.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.au/F1996B03651/2026-07-13/2026-07-13/text/original/epub/OEBPS/document_1/document_1.html"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"See state entries; none of the five has a vehicle exemption for ordinary knives that we verified.","transportAndZones":"All five states have police wanding/scanning powers in some form (see state entries). Airline rules not checked.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"NSW, Qld and SA name schools expressly; Vic/WA apply everywhere.","ageLimits":"Selling knives to under 18s is banned in WA and SA (SA since 1 July 2025); Vic bars sale to a child; NSW bans sale to under 16 (Summary Offences Act s.11F per secondary source) and a 2026 reform extends to 16 and 17 (commencement not verified).","buyingImporting":"Federal: importing flick/switchblade/assisted-opening, butterfly, push, trench, ballistic, throwing, sheath, non-metallic knives and daggers requires meeting listed tests (e.g. police certification, official purposes) in Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regs Sch 13. Ordering such knives from overseas without permission is prohibited. Domestic and state rules on posting/selling vary.","penalties":"Vary widely: from fines to up to 4 years (NSW 93IB) and 14 years for NSW prohibited weapons. See state entries.","recentChanges":"2025-2026: Vic machete ban (1 Sep 2025); SA swords/machetes prohibited and sale to under 18s (1 Jul 2025), retail phase 3 (1 Jul 2026); WA edged-weapon offence (20 Dec 2024); Qld Jack's Law permanent (18 Jul 2025); NSW wanding made permanent (passed Oct 2026 per press).","pending":"NSW wanding and 16-17 sale reform commencement dates unverified."},"goodReasonExamples":["Lawful employment, trade or study","Lawful sport, recreation or entertainment (fishing, camping)","Preparing or eating food","Genuine religious purpose (NSW, Qld, SA)"],"officialLinks":[{"title":"ABF weapons import page","url":"https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/prohibited-goods/weapons"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Full Schedule 13 knife items (butterfly, throwing, push) were only partly visible in extracts; tests listed for individual items not all captured.","Tasmania, ACT and NT not researched.","The ABF page itself rendered only navigation; no personal-import guidance read."],"store":"au"},{"id":"at","name":"Austria","country":"Austria","region":"europe","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Austria has no general knife-carry ban or length limit: ordinary pocket, locking and fixed utility knives are not 'weapons'. Switchblades, butterfly knives and daggers are weapons, banned for under-18s. Police can declare time-limited Waffenverbotszonen (e.g. parts of Vienna) where weapons and dangerous objects, including knives, may not be carried, with fines.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Waffengesetz 1996 § 1 (definition of Waffen), RIS consolidated version 26.10.2026","url":"https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10006016","quote":"Waffen sind Gegenstände, die ihrem Wesen nach dazu bestimmt sind, die Angriffs- oder Abwehrfähigkeit von Menschen ... zu beseitigen"},{"title":"Waffengesetz 1996 § 11 (minors): possession of Waffen banned under 18","url":"https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10006016","quote":"Der Besitz von Waffen, Munition und Knallpatronen ist Menschen unter 18 Jahren verboten."},{"title":"BMI magazine 'Öffentliche Sicherheit' 1-2/2020, Waffenrecht: which knives are Waffen","url":"https://www.bmi.gv.at/magazinfiles/2020/01_02/waffenrecht_bf_20200117.pdf","quote":"Als Waffen zu qualifizieren sind: Springmesser, Fallmesser ... Butterfly-Messer ... Degen, Dolche, Stilette"},{"title":"OGH Rechtssatz RS0082031 (last confirmed 10.09.2025): pocket knives, even locking, are not weapons","url":"https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokument.wxe?Abfrage=Justiz&Dokumentnummer=JJR_19700512_OGH0002_0100OS00055_7000000_001","quote":"Taschenmesser aller Art sind selbst dann, wenn sie eine Feststellungsvorrichtung für die Klinge besitzen ... in der Regel nicht als Waffen"},{"title":"Sicherheitspolizeigesetz § 36b (Waffenverbotszone)","url":"https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10005792&Paragraf=36b","quote":"mit Waffen oder mit Gegenständen, die geeignet sind und den Umständen nach dazu dienen, Gewalt gegen Menschen oder Sachen auszuüben"},{"title":"LPD Wien Verordnung 'Waffenverbotszone-Innerfavoriten', in force 10.10.2026 (example zone, penalties)","url":"https://www.polizei.gv.at/lpd_docs/4580.pdf","quote":"Geldstrafe bis zu 1000 Euro, im Wiederholungsfall mit Geldstrafe bis zu 4600 Euro"}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic"]},"verdict":"restricted","reason":"Springmesser/Fallmesser count as weapons (BMI). Not on the banned list (§ 17), so adults can generally carry them; not under 18, not in Waffenverbotszonen, not under a weapons ban or for listed third-country nationals (§ 11a). Import rules unverified.","sourceUrl":"https://www.bmi.gv.at/magazinfiles/2020/01_02/waffenrecht_bf_20200117.pdf"},{"when":{"opening":["gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"restricted","reason":"Butterfly and Fallmesser are weapons per BMI: adults 18+ only, never in Waffenverbotszonen, not for persons under a weapons ban. A manual folder you merely flick open is a normal knife, not this category.","sourceUrl":"https://www.bmi.gv.at/magazinfiles/2020/01_02/waffenrecht_bf_20200117.pdf"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool","keychain-tool"],"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"BMI counts folders with 'besonderen Vorrichtungen zum Ausspringen' as weapons. Whether spring-assisted flipper knives count was not found in any source we read.","sourceUrl":"https://www.bmi.gv.at/magazinfiles/2020/01_02/waffenrecht_bf_20200117.pdf"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool","keychain-tool"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Pocket knives and multitools, locking or not, are everyday objects, not weapons (OGH, BMI). No national carry restriction found; Waffenverbotszonen and event orders can still ban carrying objects that are 'geeignet' for violence.","sourceUrl":"https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokument.wxe?Abfrage=Justiz&Dokumentnummer=JJR_19700512_OGH0002_0100OS00055_7000000_001"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"],"double_edged":true},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"BMI lists daggers and stilettos as weapons (adults 18+ only, no zones). Whether a given double-edged utility blade is a 'Dolch' is decided by its design purpose; no clear threshold found.","sourceUrl":"https://www.bmi.gv.at/magazinfiles/2020/01_02/waffenrecht_bf_20200117.pdf"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Hunting and utility knives are not weapons (BMI); no blade-length limit. Zones and event orders can still apply, and a knife styled as a combat knife can be classed as a weapon.","sourceUrl":"https://www.bmi.gv.at/magazinfiles/2020/01_02/waffenrecht_bf_20200117.pdf"},{"when":{"form":["scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Scissors are everyday objects; no specific restriction found.","sourceUrl":"https://www.bmi.gv.at/magazinfiles/2020/01_02/waffenrecht_bf_20200117.pdf"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Combination not covered by the verified sources; classification depends on whether the item is a weapon by design.","sourceUrl":"https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10006016"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"No knife-specific vehicle rule found. Possession is not banned for adults, but in the criminal law a knife used or carried in a threatening way can still count as a weapon (BMI notes a wider criminal-law weapon concept).","transportAndZones":"§ 36b SPG lets police declare time-limited Waffenverbotszonen by ordinance; ban covers weapons and objects 'geeignet' for violence given the circumstances, so pocket knives can be seized there. Vienna zones in force in Oct 2026 include Praterstern and Innerfavoriten (10.10.2026 to 10.01.2027); more exist in Vienna (e.g. Ottakring/Josefstädter Straße per press). Violation: fine up to EUR 1,000 (EUR 4,600 repeat) and forfeiture (§ 84 Abs. 1 Z 4a SPG). Other cities not checked. ÖBB/transport house rules not checked.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"Not researched in detail. Police can create 'Sicherheitsbereiche' at major sports events (§ 49a SPG, e.g. a Salzburg order for 23 Oct 2026); that order targets people expected to commit attacks. School house rules and employer rules were not researched.","ageLimits":"Under 18: possession of Waffen (including Springmesser, butterfly, daggers) is banned (§ 11 WaffG). Ordinary knives are not Waffen, so no federal age limit found; provincial youth-protection laws were not checked. Third-country nationals without certain residence titles and asylum seekers: ban on weapons (§ 11a), administrative offence for non-firearm weapons (BMI).","buyingImporting":"§ 51 Abs. 1 Z 4 WaffG makes importing or handing over 'Waffen' an administrative offence unless permitted. So importing Springmesser/butterfly/daggers may be offences; the exact import permit regime was not verified. Ordinary knives are not Waffen, so no weapons-law import limit found.","penalties":"Zone breach: up to EUR 1,000 (up to EUR 4,600 repeat) and forfeiture per the Vienna ordinances. Non-firearm weapon offences by banned persons: administrative offence (BMI). Exact § 51 WaffG fine amounts for knives not verified.","recentChanges":"WaffG amendment of Sept 2025 (BGBl. I 56/2025; parts in force 1 Nov 2025 and 28 Apr 2026) raised age limits for firearms, not knife rules. A Green proposal for a knife-carry ban was adjourned (18 Sep 2025). Vienna zone ordinances are renewed in 3-month cycles (SPG § 36b Abs. 2: expire after three months).","pending":"A general knife-carry ban proposal (Greens, 44/A(E)) was adjourned in committee; nothing enacted. Zones are renewed or added frequently."},"goodReasonExamples":[],"officialLinks":[{"title":"Waffengesetz 1996 (RIS)","url":"https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10006016"},{"title":"SPG § 36b Waffenverbotszone (RIS)","url":"https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10005792&Paragraf=36b"},{"title":"BMI: Waffenrecht - Verbote, Verstöße, Unterschiede (2020)","url":"https://www.bmi.gv.at/magazinfiles/2020/01_02/waffenrecht_bf_20200117.pdf"},{"title":"OGH Rechtssatz RS0082031","url":"https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokument.wxe?Abfrage=Justiz&Dokumentnummer=JJR_19700512_OGH0002_0100OS00055_7000000_001"},{"title":"LPD Wien Verordnung Waffenverbotszone Innerfavoriten","url":"https://www.polizei.gv.at/lpd_docs/4580.pdf"},{"title":"Parlamentskorrespondenz Nr. 773 (18.09.2025) on Waffengesetz amendment","url":"https://www.parlament.gv.at/aktuelles/pk/jahr_2025/pk0773"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["No statute names 'Messer'; the classification of Springmesser, butterfly and daggers as weapons comes from a 2020 BMI article, not from the WaffG text. We did not find a current statutory or case-law source on carrying (Führen) rules for such non-firearm weapons beyond the absence of a ban in § 17.","OGH Rechtssatz RS0082031 is formally under the old WaffG 1986 numbering; it is repeatedly confirmed in decisions up to 10.09.2025.","Spring-assisted openers and short double-edged fixed blades: no source found.","Provincial youth-protection (Jugendschutz) laws and import permit rules not verified.","Full current list of Waffenverbotszonen outside Vienna (Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck) not collected; Vienna zones are renewed every three months.","ÖBB/Wiener Linien house rules and airport rules not checked."],"store":"de"},{"id":"us-ca","name":"California","country":"United States","region":"north-america","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Concealed carry of a 'dirk or dagger' (fixed blades, or folders locked open) is a crime; a fixed blade worn openly is not covered by that rule. Switchblades with 2 in+ blades cannot be carried, kept in a vehicle's front area or sold. Schools and colleges have separate bans. Cities may add rules.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Penal Code 21310 (concealed dirk or dagger)","url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=21310","quote":"any person in this state who carries concealed upon the person any dirk or dagger is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year"},{"title":"Penal Code 16470 (dirk/dagger definition)","url":"https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-pen/part-6/title-1/division-2/section-16470/","quote":"only if the blade of the knife is exposed and locked into position."},{"title":"Penal Code 17235 and 21510 (switchblade, 2 in+)","url":"https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-pen/part-6/title-3/division-5/chapter-5/section-21510/","quote":"switchblade knife having a blade two or more inches in length is guilty of a misdemeanor"}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic"],"blade_mm_gte":50.8},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Switchblades with blade of 2 in or more: carrying on the person, keeping in the driver/passenger area of a vehicle in public, and selling or lending are all misdemeanours.","sourceUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-pen/part-6/title-3/division-5/chapter-5/section-21510/"},{"when":{"opening":["automatic"],"blade_mm_lte":50.8},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"The switchblade offence applies only to blades of 2 in or more. A shorter automatic knife is not caught by 21510; school and other bans may still apply.","sourceUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-pen/part-6/title-1/division-2/section-17235/"},{"when":{"opening":["gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Definition names 'gravity knife' and blades 'released by the weight of the blade'. Whether balisongs/butterfly knives qualify is disputed; flick/gravity knives of 2 in+ likely fall within the ban. Not verified by case law.","sourceUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-pen/part-6/title-1/division-2/section-17235/"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"]},"verdict":"restricted","reason":"A fixed blade capable of stabbing is a dirk or dagger: criminal if concealed (e.g. under clothing). Carried openly in a visible sheath it is outside 21310. Banned at schools if blade over 2.5 in.","sourceUrl":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=21310"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"opening":["assisted","one-hand-manual","two-hand"],"lock":["liner","frame","back","axis","compression","ring","button","other"]},"verdict":"restricted","reason":"Locking folder is a dirk only when open and locked. Carried closed it is not; concealed open-and-locked is an offence. K-12 schools ban any locking folder and blades over 2.5 in.","sourceUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-pen/part-6/title-1/division-2/section-16470/"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"lock":["none"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"A non-locking folder counts as a dirk only if its blade is exposed and locked; a slipjoint cannot lock. Blades over 2.5 in are still barred at schools and colleges.","sourceUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-pen/part-6/title-1/division-2/section-16470/"},{"when":{"form":["multitool","keychain-tool","scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No California rule found specific to multitools or small tools; a locked-open blade could still be treated as a dirk if concealed. Schools restrict blades over 2.5 in.","sourceUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-pen/part-6/title-1/division-2/section-16470/"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Combination not covered by the statutory text reviewed; check the dirk/dagger definition and local ordinances.","sourceUrl":"https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-pen/part-6/title-1/division-2/section-16470/"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"Switchblade (2 in+) banned in driver/passenger area in public places (21510(a)). A fixed blade in a vehicle is usually not 'concealed on the person'; courts treat location case-by-case (not verified).","transportAndZones":"Local ordinances exist (e.g. cities restrict knives in parks or public places); not verified here. Airports/federal buildings follow federal rules.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"PC 626.10: at K-12 schools, any dirk, dagger, knife blade over 2.5 in or locking folding knife is banned. Colleges/universities: dirk, dagger, ice pick or fixed blade over 2.5 in. Exceptions for lawful purpose within one's duties or faculty direction.","ageLimits":"No state minimum age found for owning ordinary knives; sale to minors of switchblades barred as sale of any switchblade. Not otherwise verified.","buyingImporting":"Residents can buy ordinary knives. Switchblades with 2 in+ blades cannot be sold, lent or given in CA (21510(c)); online sellers commonly refuse CA shipping. Federal rules also apply.","penalties":"Concealed dirk/dagger: county jail up to 1 year (or 1170(h) sentence). Switchblade: misdemeanour. School offences: up to 1 year.","recentChanges":"No 2025-2026 change to these sections found; Justia and FindLaw show current as of Jan 2026. People v. Castillolopez (Cal. 2016) held a pocketknife counts as a dirk only if locked open.","pending":"None verified. California has no statewide knife preemption that we verified; cities can add rules."},"goodReasonExamples":[],"officialLinks":[{"title":"Penal Code 21310","url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=21310"},{"title":"Penal Code 626.10 (schools)","url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=626.10"},{"title":"People v. Castillolopez (Cal. Supreme Court)","url":"https://scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/people-v-castillolopez-34480"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["leginfo pages for 17235/21510 returned truncated text; full text read from Justia mirror","Balisong/gravity status unresolved","Local ordinances (e.g. LA, SF) not checked","Juvenile and vehicle-carrying nuances not verified"],"store":"us"},{"id":"ca","name":"Canada (federal Criminal Code)","country":"Canada","region":"north-america","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Canada has no blade-length limit and no general 'reason to carry' rule. Automatic, gravity and flick-open knives, push daggers and disguised blades are prohibited weapons. Any other knife can still be an offence if carried concealed or for a dangerous purpose. Cities and provinces add their own rules.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Criminal Code s.84(1) 'prohibited weapon'","url":"https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-84.html","quote":"a knife that has a blade that opens automatically by gravity or centrifugal force or by hand pressure applied to a button"},{"title":"Criminal Code s.2 'weapon'","url":"https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-2.html","quote":"weapon means any thing used, designed to be used or intended for use (a) in causing death or injury to any person"},{"title":"Criminal Code s.88 (weapon for dangerous purpose)","url":"https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-88.html","quote":"carries or possesses a weapon ... for a purpose dangerous to the public peace or for the purpose of committing an offence"},{"title":"Criminal Code s.90 (concealed weapon)","url":"https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-90.html","quote":"Every person commits an offence who carries a weapon, a prohibited device or any prohibited ammunition concealed"},{"title":"Criminal Code s.91 (unauthorized possession)","url":"https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-91.html","quote":"possesses a prohibited weapon, a restricted weapon, a prohibited device ... without being the holder of a licence"},{"title":"SOR/98-462 Part 3 (prescribed prohibited weapons)","url":"https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-98-462/FullText.html","quote":"Any knife commonly known as a push-dagger that is designed in such a fashion that the handle is placed perpendicular to the main cutting edge"},{"title":"R. v. Kerr, 2004 SCC 44","url":"https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/2004/2004scc44/2004scc44.html","quote":"Although concealment is the determinative factor under s. 90, it is but one relevant factor under s. 88."}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic","gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Knives that open by button/spring, gravity or centrifugal force (flick of the wrist) are 'prohibited weapons' under s.84. Possession without a licence (s.91(2)) is an offence; CBSA says flipper or thumb-stud knives that flick open count too.","sourceUrl":"https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-84.html"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"The statute covers blades opening 'by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device'. CBSA calls opening 'automatic' only if the blade deploys rapidly and inevitably to locked; spring-assisted knives are untested. Treat as at risk of seizure.","sourceUrl":"https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d19/d19-13-2-eng.html"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"opening":["one-hand-manual"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Legal status turns on whether the blade can be flicked open with a brisk wrist motion (CBSA/CITT 'centrifugal' test, including flippers and studs). Tight-pivot or detented knives that cannot be flicked open are not 'prohibited' on that test, but there is no bright line.","sourceUrl":"https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/cn-ad/cn18-01-eng.html"},{"when":{"form":["folder","fixed","multitool","keychain-tool","scissors-only"],"opening":["two-hand"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No federal blade-length limit or listing found for these. It can still become a 'weapon' offence if carried concealed (s.90) or for a dangerous purpose (s.88); push-dagger shapes and blades hidden in other objects are separately prohibited.","sourceUrl":"https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-88.html"},{"when":{"form":["fixed","multitool","keychain-tool","scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No federal listing or length limit found for ordinary fixed blades, multitools or scissors. Same caveats: concealed carry of a 'weapon' (s.90), dangerous purpose (s.88), push-dagger or disguised designs, and local bylaws.","sourceUrl":"https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-90.html"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Combination not covered by a clear rule; apply the opening-mechanism and purpose tests and check local bylaws.","sourceUrl":"https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-84.html"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"No knife-specific vehicle rule found. Concealed carry under s.90 applies in a vehicle if the knife is a 'weapon' (intended for use as a weapon).","transportAndZones":"Airports (CATSA): knives with a blade 6 cm or less are allowed in carry-on on non-US flights; longer blades go in checked bags; no knife of any length in carry-on on flights to the US. Prohibited knives at a checkpoint are reported to police. Municipal bylaws exist: Edmonton's Public Spaces Bylaw lists 'hunting or utility knives' as weapons and bars visibly possessing a weapon in public spaces ($500 fine); its exceptions were not verified.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"Provincial school law applies separately; Ontario's Education Act lists 'possessing a weapon' as grounds for suspension (seen only via search snippet, not fully verified). Treat any school, court, or event with security as no-knife.","ageLimits":"No federal age limit for buying or carrying an ordinary knife found. Provincial/municipal rules vary and were not surveyed.","buyingImporting":"Residents and visitors may not import prohibited weapons or devices at all (CBSA D19-13-2 s.143); the only exception is a business with a Firearms Business Licence. Ordinary non-prohibited knives are generally admissible ('any weapon that is not specifically prohibited ... will generally be admissible'). Ordering a flick/automatic/butterfly knife online will be seized at the border and may bring charges.","penalties":"s.88: up to 10 years (indictable) or summary. s.90: up to 5 years or summary. s.91(2): up to 5 years or summary.","recentChanges":"CBSA memo D19-13-2 reissued 25 June 2026 (adds 'centrifugal force' definition: opens with a wrist flick using no more than reasonable force). Criminal Code s.84 shows a 2026 amendment (S.C. 2026, c.11, s.3) to the 'superior court' definition only; nothing knife-related seen.","pending":"None identified."},"goodReasonExamples":[],"officialLinks":[{"title":"CBSA D19-13-2 Importing weapons","url":"https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d19/d19-13-2-eng.html"},{"title":"CBSA Customs Notice 18-01 (centrifugal knives)","url":"https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/cn-ad/cn18-01-eng.html"},{"title":"CATSA sharp objects","url":"https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/what-can-bring/sharp-objects"},{"title":"Edmonton Public Spaces Bylaw 20700","url":"https://webdocs.edmonton.ca/bylaws/20700-Public-Spaces-Bylaw-C-20260519.pdf"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["No court decision on spring-assisted knives found; CBSA's older memo versions treated torsion-bar assisted knives as at risk, the 2026 text defines 'automatic' differently.","Case law on ordinary pocket knives (when a knife becomes a 'weapon' under s.2) was not read beyond Kerr's majority discussion of s.88/s.90.","Provincial and municipal rules not surveyed beyond Edmonton; Edmonton bylaw exceptions text not captured.","Whether other designs are 'prohibited' via the regulation catch-all 'any similar device' (e.g. knuckle-handled or concealed blades) was not tested."],"store":"ca"},{"id":"cz","name":"Czechia","country":"Czechia","region":"europe","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Czech weapons law (Act 90/2024, in force since 1 Jan 2026) covers firearms and similar devices, not knives. No national offence for simply carrying a knife was found, and police and the Interior Ministry say carrying is not restricted. Owners of premises, transport operators, and assemblies can set their own limits. Threatening or injuring with a knife is an offence.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Zákon č. 90/2024 Sb., o zbraních a střelivu, § 2 odst. 2 (definition of 'zbraň'; no knife category in text or annexes)","url":"https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2024-90","quote":"Zbraní je pro účely tohoto zákona palná zbraň, plynová zbraň a další zařízení nebo přístroj, které jsou zařazeny do některé z kategorií zbraní"},{"title":"Zákon č. 90/2024 Sb., § 152 (effective date)","url":"https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2024-90","quote":"Tento zákon nabývá účinnosti dnem 1. ledna 2026."},{"title":"Ministerstvo vnitra ČR: Zbraně podléhající zákonu o zbraních (criminal-law 'weapon' vs weapons-act 'weapon')","url":"https://mv.gov.cz/clanek/zbrane-podlehajici-zakonu-o-zbranich.aspx","quote":"jde o palnou zbraň, plynovou zbraň a další zařízení nebo přístroj, které jsou zařazeny do některé z kategorií zbraní"},{"title":"Zákon č. 251/2016 Sb., o některých přestupcích, § 5 (public-order offences; no knife-carrying offence listed)","url":"https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2016-251","quote":"Fyzická osoba se dopustí přestupku tím, že neuposlechne výzvy úřední osoby při výkonu její pravomoci"},{"title":"Zákon č. 84/1990 Sb., o právu shromažďovacím, § 7 odst. 3 (participants in assemblies)","url":"https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/1990-84","quote":"Rovněž nesmějí mít u sebe jiné předměty, jimiž lze ublížit na zdraví, lze-li z okolností nebo z chování..."},{"title":"Zákon č. 40/2009 Sb., trestní zákoník, § 118 (offence committed 'with a weapon' – broad criminal-law meaning)","url":"https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2009-40","quote":"zbraní se tu rozumí ... cokoli, čím je možno učinit útok proti tělu důraznějším"},{"title":"Vyhláška č. 175/2000 Sb., přepravní řád, § 19 (items excluded from baggage)","url":"https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2000-175","quote":"Věc, která nesmí být zavazadlem nebo obsahem zavazadla, je zejména nabitá zbraň"},{"title":"iROZHLAS 20 Jul 2025: Policejní prezidium and Ministerstvo vnitra spokespeople on carrying knives (secondary report quoting officials)","url":"https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-domov/v-berline-zakazali-noze-v-hromadne-doprave-v-cesku-nehrozi-pravidlo-neni-potreba_2507201124_epo","quote":"Člověk u nás může chodit s nožem. Pokud ho ale použije výhrůžně nebo nebezpečně, už je to přestupek nebo případně trestný čin"}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic","gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Switchblades, OTF and butterfly knives are not weapons under Act 90/2024 (it covers firearms, gas weapons and similar devices) and no other national carry ban was found. Expect more police attention; retailer or venue rules may still apply.","sourceUrl":"https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2024-90"},{"when":{"double_edged":true},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No Czech statute found that distinguishes double-edged blades for carrying. Daggers draw attention but the weapons act and the offences act do not regulate them.","sourceUrl":"https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2024-90"},{"when":{"form":["folder","fixed","multitool","keychain-tool","scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No national offence for carrying a knife in public was found. The Interior Ministry spokesman says legislation does not limit carrying knives in public spaces. Premises owners and carriers set their own rules.","sourceUrl":"https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-domov/v-berline-zakazali-noze-v-hromadne-doprave-v-cesku-nehrozi-pravidlo-neni-potreba_2507201124_epo"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Catch-all: no national restriction on carrying any knife-type item was found. Check municipal decrees, venue rules and assembly rules for the specific place.","sourceUrl":"https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2024-90"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"No knife-specific rule for cars was found. Unlike firearms, knives are not covered by the weapons act's carrying and transport provisions. Not verified against the road-traffic act.","transportAndZones":"No national ban. The Interior Ministry (Jul 2025) said no ban on knives in transport is planned and that carriers set their own rules in their transport terms. The national transport code excludes loaded firearms from baggage; the Prague PID terms (1 Jan 2026) exclude loaded firearms and 'dangerous substances and objects' that may cause injury and do not name knives. Brno DPMB says an unsecured knife is not allowed and staff may exclude you and fine up to 1,500 Kč (as quoted by iROZHLAS). České dráhy current terms not read. No 'weapon-free zones' found in national law.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"Assemblies (demonstrations): participants may not carry firearms, ammunition or explosives, and not other objects that can injure if circumstances or behaviour suggest intended violence (Act 84/1990 § 7(3)); an offence under § 14(2)(a) carries a fine up to 15,000 Kč. Private premises, venues, schools and employers can ban knives under house rules; school and workplace rules not verified.","ageLimits":"No statutory minimum age for owning or carrying a knife was found in the laws read. Knives are outside the weapons act, whose adult-age rules (e.g. category NO weapons) apply to listed weapons. Retailers may set their own limit. Not confirmed by an authority.","buyingImporting":"Knives are not regulated by Act 90/2024 (no knife category in text or annexes), so no weapons-act licence, registration or notification appears to apply to buying a knife from an EU shop. Import rules from outside the EU (customs, product law) were not checked.","penalties":"No fine for plain carrying found. Related: refusing a police or authority order is a přestupek up to 10,000 Kč (Act 251/2016 § 5); carrying objects at an assembly in breach of § 7(3), up to 15,000 Kč; breach of a municipal decree, up to 100,000 Kč (Act 251/2016 § 4). Police and city police can demand surrender of anything usable as a weapon when violence is threatened (Act 273/2008 § 35; Act 553/1991 § 14). Using a knife to threaten or injure is a přestupek or a crime.","recentChanges":"Act 90/2024 Sb. replaced Act 119/2002 Sb. on 1 Jan 2026 (physical gun documents abolished, new categories R1-R4, PO, NO). The consolidated text on zakonyprolidi.cz showed only version 1 (valid 1 Jan 2026 to 31 Dec 2027) on 2026-10-26. Neither the new act's text nor its annexes mention knives; the old act was not read.","pending":"Interior Ministry said in Jul 2025 that a blanket knife ban in transport is not planned and not needed. No Czech bill restricting knife carrying was found as of 2026-10-26, but the search was not exhaustive."},"goodReasonExamples":[],"officialLinks":[{"title":"Zákon č. 90/2024 Sb., o zbraních a střelivu (zakonyprolidi.cz)","url":"https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2024-90"},{"title":"Zákon č. 251/2016 Sb., o některých přestupcích","url":"https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2016-251"},{"title":"Zákon č. 84/1990 Sb., o právu shromažďovacím","url":"https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/1990-84"},{"title":"Zákon č. 40/2009 Sb., trestní zákoník","url":"https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2009-40"},{"title":"Vyhláška č. 175/2000 Sb., přepravní řád","url":"https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2000-175"},{"title":"Ministerstvo vnitra: Zbraně podléhající zákonu o zbraních","url":"https://mv.gov.cz/clanek/zbrane-podlehajici-zakonu-o-zbranich.aspx"},{"title":"Smluvní přepravní podmínky PID (od 1. 1. 2026)","url":"https://pid.cz/wp-content/uploads/ke-stazeni/tarif/SPP_PID_2026-01-01_komplet.pdf"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Municipal decrees (obecně závazné vyhlášky): no decree banning knife carrying was found, but there is no central register and we did not search every city. Prague's decrees were not checked against knives.","České dráhy SPPO (change 6, from 14 Dec 2025) and DPP/other operators' full terms were not read; only PID's 2026 terms and the national transport code were.","No statutory age limit for buying or carrying knives was found; absence was not confirmed by an authority.","Import from outside the EU, and any 'ballistic knife' (blade-firing) rule: nothing found in Act 90/2024, but customs and other laws were not checked.","Criminal-law consequences beyond § 118 (e.g. dangerous threatening, rioting) were not read or quoted.","No Czech court decision on carrying a knife was reviewed.","Rules at courts, airports, schools and stadiums depend on house rules; not verified."],"store":"de"},{"id":"gb-ew","name":"England & Wales","country":"United Kingdom","region":"uk-ie","lastVerified":"2026-10-27","summary":"Carrying any blade or sharp point in public is an offence unless you prove good reason or lawful authority. The only exception is a non-locking folding pocketknife whose cutting edge is 3 inches (76.2 mm) or less. Locking folders, fixed blades and larger knives need a good reason. Automatic, gravity and butterfly knives are banned.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Criminal Justice Act 1988 s139 (blade/point in public place)","url":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139","quote":"This section applies to a folding pocketknife if the cutting edge of its blade exceeds 3 inches."},{"title":"Criminal Justice Act 1988 s139A (school and further education premises)","url":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139A","quote":"Any person who has an article to which section 139 of this Act applies with him on school premises or further education premises shall be guilty of an offence."},{"title":"Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959 s1 (flick and gravity knives)","url":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/7-8/37/section/1","quote":"Any person who possesses any knife of a kind described in subsection (1) is guilty of an offence."},{"title":"CPS: Knife and Other Weapons Offences (burden of proof; lock-knife)","url":"https://www.cps.gov.uk/prosecution-guidance/knife-and-other-weapons-offences","quote":"A “lock-knife” does not come into the category of “folding pocketknife” excluded from the section because it is not immediately foldable at all times."},{"title":"Sharma v DPP [2018] EWHC 3330 (Admin) (summary on CrimeLine)","url":"https://crimeline.co.uk/sharma-v-director-of-public-prosecutions-2018-ewhc-3330-admin/","quote":"turned on whether the blade was immediately foldable at all times simply by applying pressure to it"}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Gravity/inertia knives (including butterfly/balisong knives, which are on the prohibited list) are banned: sale, import and possession (including at home) are offences, with only narrow museum-type defences.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives"},{"when":{"opening":["automatic"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Flick/switchblade/automatic knives are banned. The 1959 Act definition covers blades that open from closed or partly open to fully open by a button, spring or other device in or attached to the knife. Possession is an offence.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/7-8/37/section/1"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Spring-assisted knives: Home Office guidance says knives that open manually (e.g. thumb stud) are not flick knives, and neither are ones that only partly open the blade. A blade that a spring drives fully open could be caught. No case law found.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-offensive-weapons-act-2019/statutory-guidance-offensive-weapons-act-2019-accessible-version"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"lock":["none"],"edge_mm_lte":76.2},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"A non-locking folding pocketknife with a cutting edge of 3 inches (76.2 mm) or less is outside s139. No specific restriction found for carrying it in public, but it must never be used or shown threateningly and school/prison rules still apply.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"lock":["none"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"A non-locking folder with a cutting edge over 3 inches (76.2 mm) is inside s139. Carrying it in public is an offence unless you prove good reason or lawful authority.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"lock":["ring","other"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Ring locks (e.g. Opinel Virobloc), friction/slip-joint-with-detent designs and locks that were disabled are not settled by any case we found. Retailer advice treats them as lock knives. Treat as needing a good reason.","sourceUrl":"https://www.cps.gov.uk/prosecution-guidance/knife-and-other-weapons-offences"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"lock":["liner","frame","back","axis","compression","button"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"A folder whose blade locks open is a 'lock knife': courts require the blade to be immediately foldable at all times by simple pressure, so locking folders fall inside s139 at any blade length. You need a good reason.","sourceUrl":"https://www.cps.gov.uk/prosecution-guidance/knife-and-other-weapons-offences"},{"when":{"form":["multitool"],"lock":["none"],"edge_mm_lte":76.2},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"A multitool whose blade does not lock and has a cutting edge of 3 inches or less fits the folding-pocketknife exemption on the statute's wording (Swiss Army-type). No case on multitools found; Essex Police policy treats this type as acceptable.","sourceUrl":"https://www.essex.police.uk/foi-ai/essex-police/our-policies-and-procedures/d/d0711-procedure-police-carriage-of-multi-tools/"},{"when":{"form":["multitool"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"A multitool with a locking blade, or a blade edge over 3 inches, is outside the exemption. Police policy treats locking multitools as lock knives. You need a good reason (e.g. work).","sourceUrl":"https://www.essex.police.uk/foi-ai/essex-police/our-policies-and-procedures/d/d0711-procedure-police-carriage-of-multi-tools/"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Fixed blades are never within the folding-pocketknife exemption. Carrying one in public needs a good reason or lawful authority (work, religion, national costume are listed examples).","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139"},{"when":{"form":["keychain-tool","scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"s139 covers any article with a blade or sharp point except a folding pocketknife. Small blade keyring tools or scissors are not obviously folding pocketknives; keyring blades disguised as a key are banned 'disguised knives'. No case law found.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Combination not covered above. Assume a good reason is needed and check the statute.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"'Has with him' is wider than carrying but narrower than possession: CPS says it covers a knife nearby and immediately accessible, e.g. under a car seat or in a bag next to you. Work tools left in a glovebox on a non-work day weakened a work defence (Garry v CPS [2019] EWHC 636 (Admin), as summarised by CPS). A car on a public road is a public place.","transportAndZones":"'Public place' includes any highway and anywhere the public may enter, on payment or not, so trains, buses, shops and car parks count. UK airport security refuses a knife with a sharp/pointed blade or blade over 6 cm in hand luggage (gov.uk hand-luggage page); check airline for hold luggage. Prisons: s40CA Prison Act 1952 offence applies to anyone, including visitors, even for a folding knife over 3 inches (per CPS summary); We did not read the section itself.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"s139A makes it an offence to have a s139 article (or offensive weapon) on school premises or, since 6 April 2022, further-education premises. The 3-inch folding exemption still applies to the article test, but an offensive weapon or any intent to harm is separate. Defences: good reason/lawful authority, work, educational purposes, religion, national costume; the carrier must prove them. Venues and employers can set stricter rules. Police can enter schools and search (s139B).","ageLimits":"Selling a knife or blade to under-18s is an offence (s141A); the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Exemption) Order 1996 exempts non-locking folding knives with an edge of 3 inches or less. No separate minimum age to carry was found; s139 applies to everyone.","buyingImporting":"Residents may buy knives online from sellers who meet the age-check and delivery rules. OWA 2019 s38: the seller commits an offence by delivering a 'bladed product' to residential premises or a locker, unless a s40 defence applies (age-checking procedures and delivery into the hands of an adult). In practice that means delivery must be handed to an 18+ person. Banned weapons (flick, gravity, butterfly, zombie, etc.) cannot be imported; Border Force seizes them and the maximum sentence is up to 10 years (gov.uk). Ordinary knives are not import-licensed, but we found no primary text saying so (BASC, secondary, says no licence needed).","penalties":"s139: up to 4 years' prison and/or unlimited fine on indictment; summary conviction up to 6 months on the text we read. A second weapon/knife offence at 16+ brings a mandatory minimum (6 months for adults) unless exceptional circumstances (Sentencing Code s315, CPS). Prohibited weapon possession in private: up to 51 weeks (rising to 2 years once Crime and Policing Act 2026 s29 is in force).","recentChanges":"6 Apr 2022: s139A extended to further-education premises; online-sale/delivery rules (OWA 2019 ss38-42) in force. 14 Jul 2021: flick-knife definition widened; possession of flick/gravity knives and listed weapons banned even at home. 24 Sep 2024: 'zombie-style knives/machetes' added to banned list (SI 2024/583). 1 Aug 2025: ninja swords banned (SI 2025/681). 29 Apr 2026: Crime and Policing Act 2026 passed; only s44 (sound moderators) of its weapons provisions found in force (29 Jun 2026).","pending":"Crime and Policing Act 2026 (not in force per legislation.gov.uk as of 19-26 Oct 2026): new s139AB offence of possessing a blade/offensive weapon with intent to use unlawful violence (max 7 years) (s28); higher maxima for private possession of banned weapons and sales to under-18s (2 years) (s29); police power to seize bladed articles from private premises (s30); photo-ID age checks for online knife sales and ID-checked delivery (ss32, 35); bulk-sale reporting (s42); online-platform content removal notices (ss13-27). Commencement Nos 1 and 4 regulations were read; Nos 2 and 3 only partly checked. Home Office consultation on licensing knife sellers and importers closed 24 Feb 2026; outcome not yet published."},"goodReasonExamples":["Use at work (s139(5)(a)) - needs a real link to work: transporting to or from a job or having it for the task; not just 'we am a chef/builder' generally","Religious reasons, e.g. the Sikh kirpan (s139(5)(b))","Part of national costume, e.g. sgian-dubh (s139(5)(c))","Taking knives you bought straight home, or to a museum, re-enactment, film/theatre, or class (gov.uk lists these as examples; the court decides)"],"officialLinks":[{"title":"GOV.UK: Selling, buying and carrying knives and weapons","url":"https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives"},{"title":"CPS prosecution guidance: Knife and other weapons offences","url":"https://www.cps.gov.uk/prosecution-guidance/knife-and-other-weapons-offences"},{"title":"GOV.UK: Crime and Policing Act 2026 knife crime factsheet","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crime-and-policing-act-2026-factsheets/crime-and-policing-act-2026-knife-crime-and-crossbows-factsheet"},{"title":"GOV.UK: Import controls on offensive weapons","url":"https://www.gov.uk/guidance/import-controls-on-offensive-weapons"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["No reported case on ring locks (Opinel Virobloc), friction/detent locks, or folders whose lock was deliberately disabled in England & Wales.","No reported case found on multitools; Brooker v DPP [2005] EWHC 1132 (Admin) concerned a butter-knife blade, not a multitool.","Whether a spring-assisted knife counts as a 'flick knife' is untested in sources read.","We could not read the full text of Deegan or Harris; relied on CPS, Home Office FAQ, and CrimeLine summaries.","Treatment of scissors and keyring blades.","Checked 2026-10-27: the earlier-commencement table in SI 2026/1090 (Commencement No. 4, made 15 Oct 2026) lists no commencement for ss28-43 in Nos 1 to 3; the blade provisions are still not in force. Re-check legislation.gov.uk before publishing, because No. 5 could start them with little notice."],"store":"uk"},{"id":"us-fl","name":"Florida","country":"United States","region":"north-america","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"A 'common pocketknife' is not a legal 'weapon', so ordinary small folders face no carry rule except at schools. Other knives are 'weapons': since July 2023 eligible adults may carry them concealed without a licence, and no statute limits open carry of knives. No blade-length limit; ballistic knives are banned. Under-21 concealed carry is unsettled after a June 2026 ruling.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Fla. Stat. 790.001(20) 'weapon' definition","url":"https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0790/Sections/0790.001.html","quote":"except a firearm or a common pocketknife, plastic knife, or blunt-bladed table knife."},{"title":"L.B. v. State (Fla. 1997) common pocketknife","url":"https://law.justia.com/cases/florida/supreme-court/1997/89424-0.html","quote":"A type of knife occurring frequently in the community which has a blade that folds into the handle"},{"title":"Fla. Stat. 790.225 ballistic self-propelled knives","url":"https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0790/Sections/0790.225.html","quote":"unlawful for any person to manufacture, display, sell, own, possess, or use a ballistic self-propelled knife"}],"rules":[{"when":{"form":["multitool","keychain-tool","scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Folding multitools, keychain tools and scissors fit the common pocketknife idea or are not weapons; no specific restriction found outside school property.","sourceUrl":"https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0790/Sections/0790.001.html"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"opening":["automatic","gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Whether switchblades or balisongs are 'common' pocketknives is not settled by statute or Supreme Court case. If not common, they count as weapons (fine concealed for eligible adults 21+).","sourceUrl":"https://law.justia.com/cases/florida/supreme-court/1997/89424-0.html"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"blade_mm_lte":101.6},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Folder with blade 4 in or less is a common pocketknife per the Florida Supreme Court (3¾-in blade); not a 'weapon'. The court declined to set 4 in as a bright line.","sourceUrl":"https://law.justia.com/cases/florida/supreme-court/1997/89424-0.html"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"blade_mm_gte":101.7},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Folder over 4 in: the Supreme Court expressly declined to decide whether it is a 'common pocketknife'. If a weapon, eligible adults 21+ may carry it concealed; open carry of knives is unregulated.","sourceUrl":"https://law.justia.com/cases/florida/supreme-court/1997/89424-0.html"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"]},"verdict":"restricted","reason":"Fixed blades are 'weapons'. Eligible adults 21+ may carry concealed without a licence; no statute bars open carry of knives. Under-21 concealed carry is unsettled; school property is banned.","sourceUrl":"https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0790/Sections/0790.01.html"},{"when":{"double_edged":true},"verdict":"restricted","reason":"Daggers and dirks are named as concealed weapons. Same conditions: eligible adults 21+ concealed without licence, no open-carry statute for knives, school ban, under-21 unsettled.","sourceUrl":"https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0790/Sections/0790.001.html"},{"when":{},"verdict":"restricted","reason":"Catch-all: any other knife is a 'weapon'; concealed carry is for eligible adults (21+, or licence); school property banned. Ballistic (projectile-blade) knives are prohibited outright.","sourceUrl":"https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0790/Sections/0790.225.html"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"No knife-specific vehicle rule found; the concealed-carry rules apply to a knife on or about the person.","transportAndZones":"Licence-equivalent carry excludes places in 790.06(12): police stations, jails, courthouses, polling places, government meetings, schools and colleges, pro athletic events, bar areas, airport terminals. Unlicensed carriers are bound by these (790.013).","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"790.115(2): possessing any 'weapon' (incl. razor blade, box cutter) at school events or on school property is a third-degree felony; exhibiting even a common pocketknife threateningly within 1,000 ft of a school in school hours is a felony.","ageLimits":"Concealed carry without licence needs licence criteria incl. age 21. On 17 Jun 2026 Florida's 4th DCA (Eubanks) struck the 21 minimum for licences; FDACS now licenses 18-20. Whether unlicensed 18-20s may carry is unconfirmed. Dealers cannot sell bowie or dirk knives to minors (790.18).","buyingImporting":"No Florida statute found banning online purchase of knives other than ballistic knives. Federal Switchblade Knife Act limits interstate shipping of automatics; not re-verified.","penalties":"Concealed weapon carried by an ineligible person: first-degree misdemeanour. Ballistic knife: first-degree misdemeanour. School possession: third-degree felony.","recentChanges":"HB 543 (ch. 2023-18, eff. 1 Jul 2023) allowed permitless concealed carry of weapons for eligible persons. 17 Jun 2026 Eubanks ruling on the age-21 licence minimum (per FDACS).","pending":"Unclear whether legislature will amend 790.06(2)(b) or 790.01 after Eubanks; none verified."},"goodReasonExamples":[],"officialLinks":[{"title":"Fla. Stat. ch. 790 (2025, Senate)","url":"https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter790/All"},{"title":"FDACS concealed weapon licence notice","url":"https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Concealed-Weapon-License"},{"title":"790.053 open carrying (firearms only)","url":"https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0790/Sections/0790.053.html"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Open-carry statute 790.053 names firearms and electric weapons only; no knife case law checked.","790.33 preemption covers firearms and ammunition only (opened); I infer local knife ordinances are not preempted, not verified.","Case law on whether OTF/switchblades are 'common pocketknives' not found.","Effect of Eubanks on unlicensed under-21 knife carry not found."],"store":"us"},{"id":"fr","name":"France","country":"France","region":"europe","lastVerified":"2026-10-27","summary":"France has no list of 'allowed' pocket knives. Government answers treat knives as weapons you may own but may only carry or transport with a 'motif légitime', judged case by case. Since 2025 zombie knives are banned outright; butterfly and automatic knives are named category D weapons.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Code de la sécurité intérieure (CSI) art. L317-8 (penalty for carrying/transport without legitimate reason)","url":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000047053570","quote":"S'il s'agit d'armes, de munitions ou de leurs éléments de la catégorie D ... d'un an d'emprisonnement et de 15 000 € d'amende."},{"title":"CSI art. R311-2 IV a) (category D: daggers and other weapons listed by ministerial order)","url":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000045938551/2026-10-24","quote":"les poignards, les couteaux-poignards, les matraques, les projecteurs hypodermiques et les autres armes figurant sur un arrêté du ministre de l'intérieur"},{"title":"Arrêté du 4 juillet 2025 (adds butterfly/balisong and automatic-opening locking knives to category D)","url":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000051849523","quote":"les couteaux à cran d'arrêt avec mécanisme d'ouverture automatique"},{"title":"Assemblée nationale, written question 5868, answer 24 June 2025 (citing CSI R315-1)","url":"https://questions.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/17/questions/QANR5L17QE5868","quote":"le port et le transport sans motif légitime des armes, éléments d'armes et munitions des catégories C et D"},{"title":"Assemblée nationale, written question 3073, answer 24 June 2025 (pocket knives, Laguiole)","url":"https://questions.assemblee-nationale.fr/q17/17-3073QE.htm","quote":"Les couteaux de poche, comme tout autre couteau, sont effectivement classés en catégorie D"},{"title":"Sénat, oral question 251S, answer 11 Feb 2025 (contradicts the above)","url":"https://www.senat.fr/questions/base/2025/qSEQ25010251S.html","quote":"Les autres couteaux ... ne sont pas expressément classés dans cette catégorie."},{"title":"Préfecture de Seine-et-Marne: décret n° 2025-894 of 5 Sept 2025 (zombie knives category A1)","url":"https://www.seine-et-marne.gouv.fr/Demarches/Toutes-les-demarches/Armes/Couteaux-zombie-poing-americain-La-reglementation-sur-les-armes-blanches-evolue","quote":"Les couteaux dits « zombie » et les coups de poing américains à 4 trous fabriqués après 1900 sont classés en catégorie A1"},{"title":"Ministère de l'Intérieur (Ma Sécurité): carrying weapons for self-defence","url":"https://www.masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr/fr/fiches-pratiques/famille-et-aides-aux-victimes/adulte-ou-mineur-porter-arme-pour-se-defendre","quote":"prétendre que l'arme servirait à mieux affronter une altercation ou un danger ne constitue pas un motif légitime en soi."}],"rules":[{"when":{"form":["fixed"],"special":["zombie-knife"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Fixed blade with one cutting side, a pointed tip, a serrated back and either more than one hole or several spikes: category A1 since decree 2025-894. Buying and possessing it is banned; owners had to hand them in by 7 Dec 2025.","sourceUrl":"https://www.seine-et-marne.gouv.fr/Demarches/Toutes-les-demarches/Armes/Couteaux-zombie-poing-americain-La-reglementation-sur-les-armes-blanches-evolue"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool"],"opening":["automatic"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Locking knives with automatic opening are named category D weapons (arrêté 4 July 2025). Adults may own them, but carrying or transporting one outside home needs a legitimate reason or risks 1 year and €15,000.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000051849523"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool"],"opening":["gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Butterfly/balisong knives are named category D weapons (arrêté 4 July 2025). Owning is allowed for adults; carrying or transporting without a legitimate reason is an offence. Other flick/gravity knives are not named but are weapons by destination.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000051849523"},{"when":{"double_edged":true},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Daggers and dagger-knives (double-edged blades) are named category D weapons. Carrying or transporting needs a legitimate reason (e.g. hunting trip, historical re-enactment, per the government).","sourceUrl":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000045938551/2026-10-24"},{"when":{"form":["folder","fixed","multitool"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Any other knife, including Opinel, Laguiole and Swiss-style knives: the government calls them category D (June 2025) or weapons 'by destination' (Feb 2025). Carrying needs a legitimate reason judged case by case; self-defence is not one.","sourceUrl":"https://questions.assemblee-nationale.fr/q17/17-3073QE.htm"},{"when":{"form":["scissors-only","keychain-tool"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Not named. Prefectures say everyday objects (scissors, screwdrivers, kitchen knives) can be treated as weapons by destination depending on use, time and place (art. 132-75 Code pénal). Carry only with a clear ordinary purpose.","sourceUrl":"https://www.haute-savoie.gouv.fr/Demarches/Activites-reglementees/Securite/Armes-blanches"},{"when":{},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Catch-all: treat as needing a legitimate reason to carry or transport outside the home.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000047053570"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"Transport in a car, bag or case is covered by the same 'sans motif légitime' offence (the ministry distinguishes 'port' = immediately usable from 'transport' = not immediately usable). Keep knives packed away with an evident purpose, e.g. picnic, hunting, work.","transportAndZones":"Préfets can issue temporary bans: e.g. Paris police prefecture order 2026-01289 banned carrying weapons and objects that could be weapons on 8-9 Oct 2026 in Paris and three nearby departments (seen in a search excerpt only). Such orders appear sporadically; check the prefecture site. Wider transport-law rules for knives were not verified.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"Bringing a knife (folding, kitchen, cutter, screwdriver) into a school is an offence under Code pénal art. 431-28: up to 3 years and €45,000 according to the Interior ministry page.","ageLimits":"Minors cannot buy category D weapons. Selling a weapon to a minor: up to 5 years and €75,000 (CSI L317-2, per préfecture). Since decree 2025-894, all sellers must display the ban on sales to minors (by 7 Mar 2026; fourth-class fine otherwise). No fixed minimum age to carry was found beyond the legitimate-reason test.","buyingImporting":"Adults may buy and hold category D freely, though non-armourer shops needed prefecture authorisation by 7 Mar 2026 for butterfly and automatic knives. Zombie knives (A1): purchase, possession and sale banned; tourists should not bring them. Import of other knives from abroad and online sales rules were not verified.","penalties":"Carrying/transport without legitimate reason, category D: up to 1 year and €15,000 (CSI L317-8 3°). Where the weapon is handed over voluntarily, prosecution can end with a flat fine of €500 (€400 if paid quickly, €1,000 if late), tested since April 2024 in 12+ court districts; the government said in June 2025 it may be extended nationwide. Possession of an A1 knife: 5 years and €75,000 (Code pénal 222-52, per préfecture).","recentChanges":"7 July 2025: arrêté of 4 July 2025 adds butterfly/balisong, automatic-opening locking knives, throwing stars to category D. 5 Sept 2025: decree 2025-894 makes zombie knives A1 and imposes age-ban signs; surrender deadline 7 Dec 2025. 24 June 2025 ministry answers confirm 'motif légitime' for Laguiole-type knives.","pending":"A Senate bill on municipal police (no. 97, 2025-2026) includes extension of the amende forfaitaire délictuelle (an amendment to remove it was rejected 26 Jan 2026). Its final status was not verified."},"goodReasonExamples":["Travelling to or from hunting (government example)","Historical re-enactment (government example)","Rural everyday use of a traditional pocket knife such as a Laguiole (minister Feb 2025: can be seen as a utility tool)","Picnic, hiking, work or trade use, with the knife stowed and the purpose obvious (judged case by case)","Not a good reason by itself: self-defence (Interior ministry)"],"officialLinks":[{"title":"CSI art. L317-8","url":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000047053570"},{"title":"CSI art. R311-2 (categories)","url":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000045938551/2026-10-24"},{"title":"Arrêté du 4 juillet 2025","url":"https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000051849523"},{"title":"Ma Sécurité: porter une arme pour se défendre","url":"https://www.masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr/fr/fiches-pratiques/famille-et-aides-aux-victimes/adulte-ou-mineur-porter-arme-pour-se-defendre"},{"title":"Préfecture 74: Réglementation sur les armes blanches","url":"https://www.haute-savoie.gouv.fr/Demarches/Activites-reglementees/Securite/Armes-blanches"},{"title":"Préfecture 77: décret 2025-894","url":"https://www.seine-et-marne.gouv.fr/Demarches/Toutes-les-demarches/Armes/Couteaux-zombie-poing-americain-La-reglementation-sur-les-armes-blanches-evolue"},{"title":"Q&A 3073 (couteau traditionnel de poche)","url":"https://questions.assemblee-nationale.fr/q17/17-3073QE.htm"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Government answers conflict: Feb 2025 (Sénat) says only daggers are expressly category D; June 2025 (Assemblée) says all knives are category D. The classification of plain pocket knives is not settled in the regulation text read.","Code pénal art. 132-75 and CSI R315-1 text was not opened directly; relied on government answers quoting them.","Case law on what counts as 'motif légitime' for pocket knives was not retrieved.","Current geographic extent of the €500 flat fine (nationwide or only pilot districts) as of Oct 2026 is not verified.","Rules for knives on trains, planes and in specific venues in France were not checked.","Spring-assisted and flick knives are not named; assumed to be treated as ordinary knives.","Verified 2026-10-27: the arrêté of 4 July 2025 (Légifrance JORFTEXT000051849523) names butterfly/balisong and automatic-opening locking knives as category D; service-public.gouv.fr F2248 says carrying or transporting any category D weapon without motif légitime is forbidden. Whether plain pocket knives are category D remains contradictory in government answers, so the rules stay conservative."],"store":"fr"},{"id":"de","name":"Germany","country":"Germany","region":"europe","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Carrying a knife that can be locked and used one-handed (Einhandmesser), or any fixed blade over 12 cm, is banned in public without a recognised reason or closed container. Switchblades and butterfly knives are banned outright. Since 31 Oct 2024 all knives are banned at public events and long-distance transport; states add local bans.","legalBasis":[{"title":"§ 42a WaffG (Verbot des Führens von Anscheinswaffen und bestimmten tragbaren Gegenständen) - statute text, gesetze-im-internet.de","url":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__42a.html","quote":"Messer mit einhändig feststellbarer Klinge (Einhandmesser) oder feststehende Messer mit einer Klingenlänge über 12 cm"},{"title":"§ 42 WaffG (public events; knives in Abs. 4a; state ban-zone powers in Abs. 5)","url":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__42.html","quote":"Absatz 1 gilt entsprechend für das Führen von Messern."},{"title":"§ 42b WaffG (weapons and knives in long-distance public transport)","url":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__42b.html","quote":"Es ist verboten, ... Messer in Verkehrsmitteln des öffentlichen Personenfernverkehrs ... zu führen"},{"title":"Anlage 1 WaffG (definitions: Springmesser, Fallmesser, Faustmesser, Butterflymesser; 'zugriffsbereit' in Abschnitt 2 Nr. 13)","url":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/anlage_1.html","quote":"Faltmesser mit zweigeteilten, schwenkbaren Griffen (Butterflymesser)"},{"title":"Anlage 2 WaffG (Waffenliste, Abschnitt 1 Nr. 1.4.1: prohibited Spring- und Fallmesser and the narrow exception)","url":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/anlage_2.html","quote":"Spring- und Fallmesser nach Anlage 1 Abschnitt 1 Unterabschnitt 2 Nr. 2.1.1 und 2.1.2."},{"title":"§ 52 WaffG (criminal penalties; Abs. 3 Nr. 1 covers banned knives)","url":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__52.html","quote":"Mit Freiheitsstrafe bis zu drei Jahren oder mit Geldstrafe wird bestraft, wer"},{"title":"§ 53 WaffG (administrative fines; up to EUR 10,000)","url":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__53.html","quote":"Geldbuße bis zu zehntausend Euro geahndet werden"},{"title":"§ 2 WaffG (age 18 for handling Waffen; Abs. 3 ban on Anlage 2 Abschnitt 1 items)","url":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__2.html","quote":"Der Umgang mit Waffen oder Munition ist nur Personen gestattet, die das 18. Lebensjahr vollendet haben."},{"title":"BKA Feststellungsbescheid 'Titan Sepp' (BAnz AT 15.02.2022 B6): a two-hand-opening frame-lock folder is not an Einhandmesser","url":"https://www.bundesanzeiger.de/pub/publication/0gl5Qsk2RKszoEFZGqz/content/0gl5Qsk2RKszoEFZGqz/BAnz%20AT%2015.02.2022%20B6.pdf","quote":"Dies würde erfordern, dass es sich mit der das Messer haltenden Hand öffnen und feststellen ließe."},{"title":"BMI FAQ 'Waffengesetzänderungen 2024' (knife bans at events/long-distance transport; Springmesser rules)","url":"https://www.bmi.bund.de/DE/themen/sicherheit/waffen/waffenrecht/faq-artikel-waffenrecht.html?nn=9391660","quote":"Die gesetzlichen Verbote, Messer zu führen, gelten für alle Messer, unabhängig von der Klingenlänge und der Beschaffenheit."}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Switchblades (button/lever, incl. OTF) are Springmesser and banned to own or carry (Anlage 2 Abschnitt 1 Nr. 1.4.1). Only a narrow exception exists (side-opening, blade at most 8.5 cm, single-edged, plus a concrete need for one-handed use or a job).","sourceUrl":"https://www.bmi.bund.de/DE/themen/sicherheit/waffen/waffenrecht/faq-artikel-waffenrecht.html?nn=9391660"},{"when":{"opening":["gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Butterfly (balisong) knives and Fallmesser (blade released by a lock and thrown out by gravity or a flick) are banned outright. A plain manual folder you flick open is not this category; classify it as one-hand-manual instead.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/anlage_2.html"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool","keychain-tool"],"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Spring-assisted openers: opening from a button/lever alone makes it a banned Springmesser; a flipper/stud model with a lock is at least an Einhandmesser (restricted). We found no official ruling on assisted openers.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/anlage_1.html"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool","keychain-tool"],"lock":["liner","frame","back","axis","compression","ring","button","other"],"opening":["one-hand-manual"]},"verdict":"restricted","reason":"Einhandmesser (opens and locks one-handed). Carrying in public is banned unless you have a legitimate interest (work, custom, sport, other generally recognised purpose) or it is in a closed container (§ 42a Abs. 2-3). The carrier must show it.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__42a.html"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool","keychain-tool"],"lock":["liner","frame","back","axis","compression","ring","button","other"],"opening":["two-hand"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"A locking folder that genuinely needs two hands to open is not an Einhandmesser per the BKA. § 42a does not apply, but event, rail and local ban-zone rules do, and police or courts may judge borderline models differently.","sourceUrl":"https://www.bundesanzeiger.de/pub/publication/0gl5Qsk2RKszoEFZGqz/content/0gl5Qsk2RKszoEFZGqz/BAnz%20AT%2015.02.2022%20B6.pdf"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool","keychain-tool"],"lock":["none"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"A blade that cannot be locked open is not an 'einhändig feststellbare' blade, so § 42a does not catch it, even if you can open it with one hand. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__42a.html"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"],"blade_mm_gte":120},"verdict":"restricted","reason":"Fixed blade longer than 12 cm: carrying in public needs a legitimate interest (e.g. work, hunting, sport, custom) or a closed container. Exactly 12.0 cm is not 'über 12 cm'. The statute does not say how blade length is measured.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__42a.html"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"],"double_edged":true},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Short double-edged fixed blades (dagger style) can be classed as a Stoßwaffe, which § 42a Abs. 1 Nr. 2 bans carrying regardless of length without a legitimate interest. Case by case; no source on specific blades verified.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__42a.html"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Single-edged fixed blade of 12 cm or less is not covered by § 42a. Event, rail and local ban-zone rules still apply. Knuckle-handled (Faustmesser) fixed knives are banned outright and are not covered by this rule.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__42a.html"},{"when":{"form":["scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Scissors without a knife blade are not a knife under the carry-ban provisions we read. Whether event 'Messer' bans reach scissors was not verified; treat as low-risk but unconfirmed.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__42a.html"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Combination not covered by the verified rules above; check § 42a and Anlage 2 or ask the local Waffenbehörde.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__42a.html"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"'Führen' means having a knife within your control outside your own home/property, so a knife in a car or bag counts. § 42a Abs. 2 Nr. 2 excuses transport in a closed container. For events and transport bans, a knife is 'nicht zugriffsbereit' if it takes more than three hand movements to reach (Anlage 1 Abschnitt 2 Nr. 13). No separate car-specific knife rule found.","transportAndZones":"Long-distance (ICE/IC/Flix trains, long-distance buses, enclosed stations/stops): all knives banned by § 42b Abs. 1 unless an exception applies (e.g. job-related, or not accessible per § 42 Abs. 4a Nr. 3, or with operator consent for the stay's purpose). Local transport: states may ban knives by ordinance; verified examples: Niedersachsen (all public transport and stops, from 1 Apr 2026, only non-accessible carriage allowed), Berlin (ÖPNV, since 17 Jul 2025), NRW has a state Waffen- und Messerverbotsverordnung (amended 30 Mar 2026). Bundespolizei issues time-limited Allgemeinverfügungen for stations (example: Hamburg stations, 1-31 Oct 2026). Berlin also has street ban zones (Görlitzer Park, Kottbusser Tor, Leopoldplatz); other cities may too (not verified). This is a patchwork: check the state and city.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"§ 42 Abs. 1 + 4a: ban on carrying any knife at public entertainments, fairs, markets, sports events, exhibitions, and at theatre, cinema and disco visits. Exceptions (§ 42 Abs. 4a S. 2) include trade/work, non-accessible transport, hosts and guests of gastronomy, custom/hunting/sport, and any generally recognised purpose, but the carrying must relate to that purpose. States can ban knives at schools and youth/education facilities by ordinance (§ 42 Abs. 5 Nr. 4). Workplace/school house rules were not researched.","ageLimits":"Banned or Anlage 1-listed Waffen (Springmesser, etc.): handling only for 18+ (§ 2 Abs. 1); carrying even an exempt Springmesser requires carrying ID (BMI). The § 42a, § 42 and § 42b carry bans have no age exemption (Niedersachsen says its ban applies regardless of age). We found no federal statutory minimum age for buying an ordinary knife; many retailers use 18+ by policy. Not verified.","buyingImporting":"Banned knives (switchblades, butterfly, Fallmesser, Faustmesser) may not be acquired, owned, imported or sold (§ 2 Abs. 3, § 52 Abs. 3 Nr. 1: includes 'verbringt'/'mitnimmt'). Springmesser amnesty ended 1 Oct 2025. Ordinary knives and Einhandmesser are not Waffen under the Act, so ordering them online is not itself prohibited by the provisions we read; carrying them afterwards is what § 42a regulates. We did not verify courier or retailer age-check rules.","penalties":"Carrying an Einhandmesser/fixed blade over 12 cm without a recognised reason, or any knife in an event/transport ban: administrative offence, fine up to EUR 10,000 (§ 53 Abs. 1 Nr. 21a, 21b, 21c, Abs. 2) and confiscation possible. Banned knives (Springmesser, Fallmesser, Faustmesser, Butterfly): crime, up to 3 years or a fine; negligence up to 1 year (§ 52 Abs. 3 Nr. 1, Abs. 4).","recentChanges":"31 Oct 2024 (BGBl. 2024 I Nr. 332): statutory knife bans at public events (§ 42 Abs. 4a) and in long-distance transport (§ 42b); wider state powers for knife-ban zones (§ 42 Abs. 5); stop-and-search in zones (§ 42c); Springmesser ban extended to side-opening blades up to 8.5 cm unless need/job, amnesty until 1 Oct 2025. § 42a itself was not changed. 2025-2026: several states adopted ÖPNV/zone ordinances (Berlin 17 Jul 2025, Niedersachsen 1 Apr 2026, NRW amendment Mar 2026).","pending":"No pending federal change to §§ 42a/42/42b found in the Bundesrat/Bundestag documents we checked (Aug 2026 bills concern semi-automatic handguns and customs-office restructuring). More state ordinances and Bundespolizei Allgemeinverfügungen are likely and change often."},"goodReasonExamples":["Work (e.g. trade, kitchen, rescue services) - carrying must relate to the job (§ 42a Abs. 3 'Berufsausübung')","Custom/folklore events (Brauchtumspflege)","Sport (e.g. hunting, fishing, climbing, sailing)","Any 'allgemein anerkannter Zweck' per statute; BMI examples for exempt Springmesser include hunters, climbers, sailors on the way back from the activity","Transport in a closed container (separate exception, no reason needed)"],"officialLinks":[{"title":"§ 42a WaffG","url":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__42a.html"},{"title":"§ 42 WaffG","url":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__42.html"},{"title":"§ 42b WaffG","url":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__42b.html"},{"title":"Anlage 1 WaffG","url":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/anlage_1.html"},{"title":"Anlage 2 WaffG","url":"https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/anlage_2.html"},{"title":"BMI FAQ Waffengesetzänderungen 2024","url":"https://www.bmi.bund.de/DE/themen/sicherheit/waffen/waffenrecht/faq-artikel-waffenrecht.html?nn=9391660"},{"title":"Niedersachsen: Waffen- und Messerverbot im öffentlichen Personenverkehr (FAQ)","url":"https://www.mi.niedersachsen.de/themen/innere_sicherheit/waffenverbot_opnv/faq/waffen-und-messerverbot-in-verkehrsmitteln-des-offentlichen-personenverkehrs-249809.html"},{"title":"Polizei Berlin: Waffen- und Messerverbotszonen im ÖPNV","url":"https://www.berlin.de/polizei/polizeimeldungen/fakten-hintergruende/artikel.1570919.php"},{"title":"NRW Zweite Verordnung zur Änderung der Waffen- und Messerverbotsverordnung (30.03.2026)","url":"https://recht.nrw.de/gvnrw/2026-s223"},{"title":"Bundespolizei Allgemeinverfügung Hamburg Bahnhöfe, Oktober 2026 (example)","url":"https://bundespolizei.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Downloads/Aktuelles/Allgemeinverf%C3%BCgung/2026/Hannover/okt/Allgemeinverf%C3%BCgung_HH_gesiegelt.pdf"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Statute and BMI/BKA texts are verified. The edge-case reading that a non-locking one-hand opener (slipjoint, Opinel-style) and a locking two-hand opener are NOT Einhandmesser rests on the BKA 'Titan Sepp' decision (which binds only that model) and on commentary plus one first-instance acquittal (Kehl, ring-lock knife, reported on strafrechtsiegen.de, which we read but did not list as primary). No Federal Court ruling found.","Treatment of spring-assisted openers (button-only vs flipper) not verified from a primary source.","How 'Klingenlänge' is measured for the 12 cm fixed-blade limit is not defined in the statute; not verified.","Whether short double-edged fixed blades are treated as Stoßwaffen under § 42a Abs. 1 Nr. 2 in practice: no source checked.","Full list of state ordinances (Bremen, Hamburg, Sachsen, Bayern etc.) and exact exceptions per ordinance not collected; only Niedersachsen, Berlin, NRW and one Bundespolizei order were read.","Retail/shipping and minimum-age rules for ordinary knives not verified from primary sources.","Airport/air-travel rules are out of scope and were not checked."],"store":"de"},{"id":"us-il","name":"Illinois","country":"United States","region":"north-america","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"State law bans switchblades and ballistic knives unless the person holds a valid FOID card, and bans carrying a dagger or dangerous knife with intent to use it unlawfully. Ordinary folders, fixed blades and balisongs have no statewide length limit. Chicago adds its own limits, including a ban on concealing blades over 2.5 inches. Home-rule towns may add rules.","legalBasis":[{"title":"720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(1)","url":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=072000050K24-1","quote":"any knife, commonly referred to as a switchblade knife, which has a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button"},{"title":"720 ILCS 5/24-1(e)(2) FOID exemption","url":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=072000050K24-1","quote":"does not apply to a person who possesses a currently valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card"},{"title":"Chicago Municipal Code 8-24-020(f)","url":"https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2644624","quote":"No person shall carry concealed on or about his person a dagger, any knife with a blade more than two and one-half inches in length"}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic"]},"verdict":"restricted","reason":"Switchblades and OTFs are prohibited unless you hold a currently valid Illinois FOID card (or are a seller/maker). Chicago bans them outright, with no FOID exception in its ordinance.","sourceUrl":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=072000050K24-1"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Statute covers a blade that 'opens automatically' by pressure on a button, spring or other device in the handle. Whether spring-assisted flippers fit is not settled by anything we found.","sourceUrl":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=072000050K24-1"},{"when":{"opening":["gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Balisongs and gravity knives are not named in 24-1(a)(1); no specific statewide restriction found. Chicago concealment limits still apply.","sourceUrl":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=072000050K24-1"},{"when":{"double_edged":true},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Daggers are offences only when carried with intent to use unlawfully against another (24-1(a)(2)); no statewide ban on double-edged blades as such. Chicago bans concealing any dagger.","sourceUrl":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=072000050K24-1"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No statewide length limit or carry-manner rule found for fixed blades, open or concealed. Chicago bans concealing blades over 2.5 in.","sourceUrl":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=072000050K24-1"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool","keychain-tool","scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No statewide restriction found for locking, non-locking or one-hand folders and multitools. Chicago: do not conceal blades over 2.5 in (63.5 mm).","sourceUrl":"https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2644624"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Catch-all: no specific statewide restriction found; ballistic knives and throwing stars are banned, and local ordinances and school/transit locations apply.","sourceUrl":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=072000050K24-1"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"No knife-specific vehicle rule found in 24-1 beyond the firearm provisions.","transportAndZones":"24-1(c): switchblade, unlawful-intent dagger and similar offences in schools, public parks, courthouses, public transport vehicles or within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, courthouses or transit facilities are enhanced felonies. Applies to (a)(1)-(a)(3); class not fully read.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"Schools and colleges are covered by the 24-1(c) enhancements for the listed offences. School district policies not checked.","ageLimits":"No statewide knife age limit found in 24-1. Chicago: no knife with 2-in+ blade for anyone 18 or under to carry, or to be sold or given to them.","buyingImporting":"Sale or purchase of switchblades is banned for non-FOID holders. Other knives: no state purchase ban found. Chicago bars possession of switchblades.","penalties":"Unlawful possession of weapons: penalty classes not read from the statute; enhanced to felony in listed places. Chicago: $200 fine and/or up to 6 months.","recentChanges":"24-1 was last amended by P.A. 103-822 (eff. 1 Jan 2025); We found no knife-specific change in 2024-2026.","pending":"SB 297 (104th GA) proposes changes to 24-1; not read, we do not know if knife-related."},"goodReasonExamples":[],"officialLinks":[{"title":"720 ILCS 5/24-1","url":"https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=072000050K24-1"},{"title":"Chicago Municipal Code 8-24-020","url":"https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2644624"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Spring-assisted status under 24-1(a)(1) is unsettled; no case law found.","Class of misdemeanour/felony penalties for knives not read from the statute.","Preemption: We found no knife preemption; home-rule towns may regulate. Not checked against case law.","FOID exemption relevance for non-residents (cannot hold FOID) is my reading, not verified."],"store":"us"},{"id":"it","name":"Italy","country":"Italy","region":"europe","lastVerified":"2026-10-27","summary":"Italy tightened knife law on 25 April 2026. Carrying blades over 8 cm, or locking/one-hand folders of 5 cm or more, without a 'giustificato motivo' is now a crime with 6 months to 3 years. Butterfly, spring-activated and double-edged knives are banned outright. Other cutting tools still need a justification.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Legge 18 aprile 1975 n. 110, art. 4 comma 2 (as in force; reproduced in Gazzetta Ufficiale 11 May 2026 coordinated text)","url":"https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaArticolo?art.versione=1&art.idGruppo=1&art.flagTipoArticolo=0&art.codiceRedazionale=26A02297&art.idArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo1=10&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2026-05-11&art.progressivo=0","quote":"Senza giustificato motivo, non possono portarsi, fuori della propria abitazione ... strumenti da punta o da taglio atti ad offendere"},{"title":"L. 110/1975 art. 4 comma 3 (penalty for the general offence)","url":"https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaArticolo?art.versione=1&art.idGruppo=1&art.flagTipoArticolo=0&art.codiceRedazionale=26A02297&art.idArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo1=10&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2026-05-11&art.progressivo=0","quote":"Il contravventore è punito con l'arresto da uno a tre anni e con l'ammenda da 1.000 euro a 10.000 euro."},{"title":"L. 110/1975 art. 4 comma 8 (new, DL 23/2026 as converted by L. 54/2026)","url":"https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaArticolo?art.versione=1&art.idGruppo=1&art.flagTipoArticolo=0&art.codiceRedazionale=26A02297&art.idArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo1=10&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2026-05-11&art.progressivo=0","quote":"senza giustificato motivo, porta ... strumenti dotati di lama affilata o appuntita eccedente in lunghezza i centimetri otto"},{"title":"L. 110/1975 art. 4 comma 8 (second part, folders)","url":"https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaArticolo?art.versione=1&art.idGruppo=1&art.flagTipoArticolo=0&art.codiceRedazionale=26A02297&art.idArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo1=10&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2026-05-11&art.progressivo=0","quote":"strumenti con lama pieghevole di lunghezza pari o superiore a centimetri cinque, a un taglio e a punta acuta, muniti di meccanismo di blocco della lama oppure apribili con una sola mano"},{"title":"L. 110/1975 art. 4-bis comma 1 (new, no 'giustificato motivo' wording)","url":"https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaArticolo?art.versione=1&art.idGruppo=1&art.flagTipoArticolo=0&art.codiceRedazionale=26A02297&art.idArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo1=10&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2026-05-11&art.progressivo=0","quote":"compresi gli strumenti con lama a due tagli e a punta acuta"},{"title":"L. 110/1975 art. 4-bis comma 1, second sentence (spring, butterfly, disguised)","url":"https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaArticolo?art.versione=1&art.idGruppo=1&art.flagTipoArticolo=0&art.codiceRedazionale=26A02297&art.idArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo1=10&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2026-05-11&art.progressivo=0","quote":"muniti di meccanismo a scatto, indipendentemente dalla presenza del blocco della lama"},{"title":"Senato, Dossier n. 651 (explains art. 4 vs 4-bis for the draft decree)","url":"https://www.senato.it/show-doc?id=1496339&idoggetto=0&leg=19&part=dossier_dossier1-sezione_sezione12-h2_h21&tipodoc=DOSSIER","quote":"interpretare il porto di tali oggetti come assoluto e sempre vietato fuori dall'abitazione"},{"title":"Giustizia Insieme (7 Apr 2026): 'giustificato motivo' in case law","url":"https://www.giustiziainsieme.it/articolo/3913-il-porto-di-strumenti-da-taglio","quote":"Il giustificato motivo non è quello ricostruito a posteriori, bensì quello che emerge nell'attualità del controllo"}],"rules":[{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool"],"opening":["automatic"],"blade_mm_gte":50},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Folding knives of 5 cm or more with a spring/automatic mechanism ('a scatto') are in art. 4-bis: carrying outside home is a crime of 1-3 years with no 'justified reason' defence written into the text.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaArticolo?art.versione=1&art.idGruppo=1&art.flagTipoArticolo=0&art.codiceRedazionale=26A02297&art.idArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo1=10&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2026-05-11&art.progressivo=0"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool"],"opening":["gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Butterfly ('a farfalla') blades are named in art. 4-bis: 1-3 years if carried outside home. Flick/inertia knives are not named but are likely treated as 'a scatto'. Avoid.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaArticolo?art.versione=1&art.idGruppo=1&art.flagTipoArticolo=0&art.codiceRedazionale=26A02297&art.idArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo1=10&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2026-05-11&art.progressivo=0"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool"],"opening":["assisted"],"blade_mm_gte":50},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Spring-assisted folders of 5 cm or more may be 'a scatto' (art. 4-bis, banned outright) or fall under art. 4 comma 8 (justified reason possible). The official annotation also mentions one-hand openers inconsistently. High risk.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaArticolo?art.versione=1&art.idGruppo=1&art.flagTipoArticolo=0&art.codiceRedazionale=26A02297&art.idArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo1=10&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2026-05-11&art.progressivo=0"},{"when":{"double_edged":true},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Blades with two cutting edges and a sharp point are treated as weapons without licence (art. 4-bis): carrying outside home is a crime of 1-3 years.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaArticolo?art.versione=1&art.idGruppo=1&art.flagTipoArticolo=0&art.codiceRedazionale=26A02297&art.idArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo1=10&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2026-05-11&art.progressivo=0"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool"],"lock":["liner","frame","back","axis","compression","ring","button","other"],"blade_mm_gte":50},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Folders with a blade of 5 cm or more, single edge, pointed and with any blade lock: carrying without a justified reason is a crime (6 months-3 years, art. 4 comma 8). The reason must be real, current and checkable at the stop.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaArticolo?art.versione=1&art.idGruppo=1&art.flagTipoArticolo=0&art.codiceRedazionale=26A02297&art.idArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo1=10&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2026-05-11&art.progressivo=0"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool"],"opening":["one-hand-manual"],"blade_mm_gte":50},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Folders of 5 cm or more that open one-handed (thumb stud, flipper, wave) are in art. 4 comma 8: carrying without a justified reason is a crime (6 months-3 years), even without a lock. Caution: art. 4-bis(1) as amended also names folders 'apribili con una sola mano' with no justification defence, so a stricter reading (1-3 years) is possible; commentators call the two articles contradictory.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaArticolo?art.versione=1&art.idGruppo=1&art.flagTipoArticolo=0&art.codiceRedazionale=26A02297&art.idArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo1=10&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2026-05-11&art.progressivo=0"},{"when":{"form":["folder","fixed","multitool"],"blade_mm_gte":80.1},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Any sharp or pointed blade longer than 8 cm, fixed or folding: carrying without a justified reason is a crime (6 months-3 years, art. 4 comma 8). How the blade is measured is not defined in the text.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaArticolo?art.versione=1&art.idGruppo=1&art.flagTipoArticolo=0&art.codiceRedazionale=26A02297&art.idArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo1=10&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2026-05-11&art.progressivo=0"},{"when":{"form":["folder","fixed","multitool"],"blade_mm_lte":80},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Smaller or non-locking, two-hand knives (up to 8 cm, or folders under 5 cm) can still be 'strumenti atti ad offendere' (art. 4 comma 2): carrying without a justified reason is an offence of 1-3 years' arrest plus a €1,000-10,000 fine.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaArticolo?art.versione=1&art.idGruppo=1&art.flagTipoArticolo=0&art.codiceRedazionale=26A02297&art.idArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo1=10&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2026-05-11&art.progressivo=0"},{"when":{"form":["scissors-only","keychain-tool"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Art. 4 comma 2 also covers 'any other instrument' clearly usable to harm given time and place. Small scissors or keychain tools are rarely prosecuted but no official guidance found; carry only with an ordinary purpose.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaArticolo?art.versione=1&art.idGruppo=1&art.flagTipoArticolo=0&art.codiceRedazionale=26A02297&art.idArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo1=10&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2026-05-11&art.progressivo=0"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Catch-all: combination not covered. Assume a 'giustificato motivo' is needed to carry any blade outside home; butterfly, spring and double-edged blades are banned outright.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaArticolo?art.versione=1&art.idGruppo=1&art.flagTipoArticolo=0&art.codiceRedazionale=26A02297&art.idArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo1=10&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2026-05-11&art.progressivo=0"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"The statute says 'fuori della propria abitazione o delle appartenenze di essa' with no vehicle exception, so a knife in a car is outside the home. A Cassazione case (Sez. I 35452/2021) concerned a 8.5 cm folder in a car glovebox; the outcome was not verified. Pack knives away and keep your reason evident.","transportAndZones":"Art. 4-bis comma 2 raises the penalty by one third to one half when carrying happens near banks, post offices, ATMs, public parks, stations, bus stops or inside trains and public transport vehicles (vehicles added in 2026), at gatherings or public meetings, or near schools. Art. 4 comma 8 expressly applies this comma. Carrying at public meetings is separately punished (art. 4 comma 5).","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"Aggravation near schools and at gatherings (see above). Sporting events increase the penalty under art. 4 comma 3. Airport and workplace rules not verified.","ageLimits":"New art. 4-quater: selling or giving a covered knife (art. 4 comma 8 and 4-bis instruments) to anyone under 18 is banned, including private sales; fines €500-3,000, higher on repeat; sellers must check ID; online sellers need age verification (those online duties start 60 days after the conversion law). Parents of a minor caught carrying face a €200-1,000 fine (art. 4-ter).","buyingImporting":"No general ban on owning or buying knives found, apart from outright carry bans on certain types and the age limit above. Online retailers must verify age (from late June 2026). Import by tourists was not verified.","penalties":"Art. 4 comma 8: prison (reclusione) 6 months-3 years. Art. 4 comma 3: arrest 1-3 years plus €1,000-10,000. Art. 4-bis: prison 1-3 years, increased by a third to a half in listed places. Mandatory confiscation of the knife. For comma 8 and 4-bis, the prefect may suspend driving licence or gun licence for up to 1 year. Foreign adults caught are reported to the questore.","recentChanges":"DL 24 Feb 2026 n. 23 (in force 25 Feb 2026) became law with L. 24 Apr 2026 n. 54; conversion changes took effect on 25 Apr 2026. Parliament restored the 'giustificato motivo' for locking and one-hand folders (moved from art. 4-bis into art. 4 comma 8) and added trains and public transport to the aggravating places. Earlier: DL 123/2023 raised penalties under art. 4 comma 3. Some web pages still quote older penalties such as 6 months-2 years.","pending":"Possible constitutional or interpretive disputes over the overlap between art. 4 comma 8 and art. 4-bis were raised by commentators; no court ruling found yet. Prosecutors' circulars (e.g. Bologna, 7 May 2026) exist but were not read."},"goodReasonExamples":["Work or trade use (cook, craftsman, farmer) with the knife stowed and the link to work evident","Camping, hiking or fishing trip, outdoor sport","Hunting (the hunter federation FIDC lists hunting as a recognised reason)","Direct transport to or from a place where the knife will lawfully be used","Cassazione standard: the reason must be real, current and checkable at the stop, not invented afterwards; a vague or late explanation fails"],"officialLinks":[{"title":"Gazzetta Ufficiale 11 May 2026: DL 23/2026 coordinated with L. 54/2026 (Art. 1)","url":"https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaArticolo?art.versione=1&art.idGruppo=1&art.flagTipoArticolo=0&art.codiceRedazionale=26A02297&art.idArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo=1&art.idSottoArticolo1=10&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2026-05-11&art.progressivo=0"},{"title":"Normattiva: DL 23/2026 (vigente)","url":"https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legge:2026-02-24;23!vig"},{"title":"Normattiva: Legge 110/1975","url":"https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:legge:1975-04-18;110~art4"},{"title":"Senato Dossier n. 651 on art. 1 DL 23/2026","url":"https://www.senato.it/show-doc?id=1496339&idoggetto=0&leg=19&part=dossier_dossier1-sezione_sezione12-h2_h21&tipodoc=DOSSIER"},{"title":"Giustizia Insieme: Il porto di strumenti da taglio","url":"https://www.giustiziainsieme.it/articolo/3913-il-porto-di-strumenti-da-taglio"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Spring-assisted and flick/gravity knives: the amending text says 'meccanismo a scatto, indipendentemente dalla presenza del blocco', but the annotated text in the Gazzetta also contains a stray 'o a scatto oppure apribili con una sola mano'. Which regime applies to one-hand openers (art. 4 c.8 with justification, or 4-bis without) was read as c.8 per the operative amendment; not confirmed by case law.","How blade length is measured (8 cm and 5 cm thresholds) is not defined in the text read.","Cassazione decisions on Swiss Army knives, multitools and Opinel (a Cass. 10696/2013 headnote on Opinel was only seen in a search snippet) were not read; no case found for the post-April 2026 rules.","Whether the 'lieve entità' ammenda-only route in art. 4 comma 3 applies to knives, since the text says 'soli oggetti atti ad offendere'.","Rules for knives in checked and hand luggage on flights, and EU travel with knives, were not checked.","Municipal ordinances (sindaco) banning knives in some Italian cities were not checked.","Checked 2026-10-27 on the text reproduced by earmi.it: art. 4 comma 8 and art. 4-bis(1) both name one-hand-openable folders of 5 cm or more, one with and one without 'giustificato motivo'. Commentators disagree on which prevails; ask an Italian criminal lawyer and check prosecutors' circulars."],"store":"it"},{"id":"us-ma","name":"Massachusetts","country":"United States","region":"north-america","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Section 269 §10(b) still lists banned knives for carrying: daggers, stilettos, dirks, ballistic knives and any double-edged blade. Commonwealth v. Canjura (SJC, Aug 2024) struck the switchblade/automatic clause, so carrying those is not enforceable. Ordinary single-edged folders and fixed blades are not listed, but the locking-blade 'device or case' wording is unclear. Local rules (e.g. Boston) may add limits.","legalBasis":[{"title":"M.G.L. c.269 §10(b)","url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter269/Section10","quote":"any stiletto, dagger ... dirk knife, any knife having a double-edged blade, or a switch knife"},{"title":"Commonwealth v. Canjura, 494 Mass. 508 (2024) summary","url":"https://www.mass.gov/doc/switchblades-commonwealth-v-canjura-supreme-judicial-court-august-27-2024/download","quote":"§ 10(b) is invalidated only with respect to the prohibitions regarding switchblade knives."},{"title":"Mass. Model Jury Instruction 7.680 (rev. Feb 2026)","url":"https://www.mass.gov/doc/7680-carrying-certain-dangerous-weapons-gl-c-269-s-10-b/download","quote":"The Court declined to opine on the constitutionality of the prohibitions on any of the other weapons contained in § 10(b)."}],"rules":[{"when":{"double_edged":true},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"§10(b) lists 'any knife having a double-edged blade' with no length threshold. Carrying on the person or in a vehicle is an offence. Not yet tested after Canjura; the SJC left other clauses undecided.","sourceUrl":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter269/Section10"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Fixed blades are not listed as such, but stilettos, daggers and dirks are, defined by design for stabbing. Courts decide case by case, so a single-edged utility fixed blade is likely fine but not certain.","sourceUrl":"https://www.mass.gov/doc/7680-carrying-certain-dangerous-weapons-gl-c-269-s-10-b/download"},{"when":{"opening":["automatic","assisted"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Canjura invalidated the carry ban for switchblades; the defendant's spring-assisted knife was treated as a switchblade. Double-edged and fixed-dagger rules still apply. Local rules not checked.","sourceUrl":"https://www.mass.gov/doc/switchblades-commonwealth-v-canjura-supreme-judicial-court-august-27-2024/download"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"lock":["liner","frame","back","axis","compression","ring","button","other"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"§10(b) bans a 'device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position'. Ordinary locking folders are not named, but no appellate reading found; treat as uncertain.","sourceUrl":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter269/Section10"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.","sourceUrl":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter269/Section10"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"§10(b) applies to listed knives carried on the person or 'under his control in a vehicle'.","transportAndZones":"No state transport rule found for knives; local ordinances (Boston and others) not verified.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"§10(j): carrying a firearm or 'other dangerous weapon' in any building or on grounds of a school or college without written authorisation: fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 2 years. Courthouse bans cover firearms in §10(k), not clearly knives.","ageLimits":"No age limit for carrying found in §10(b). Sale to minors rules (c.140 and c.269) not verified.","buyingImporting":"Not verified. Federal Switchblade Knife Act still limits interstate shipping of automatics; Massachusetts sale or import rules after Canjura not confirmed.","penalties":"§10(b): state prison 2.5 to 5 years, or 6 months to 2.5 years in jail or house of correction. §10(j) school carrying: up to 2 years and $1,000.","recentChanges":"Canjura decided 27 Aug 2024, striking the switchblade clause. 2025 Acts ch. 14 (eff. 5 Aug 2025) amended parts of §10(j)-(k); knife clause (b) text unchanged on malegislature.gov.","pending":"None found. The legislature has not rewritten the other §10(b) clauses."},"goodReasonExamples":[],"officialLinks":[{"title":"M.G.L. c.269 §10","url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter269/Section10"},{"title":"Model jury instruction 7.680","url":"https://www.mass.gov/doc/7680-carrying-certain-dangerous-weapons-gl-c-269-s-10-b/download"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Whether the 1.5-inch limit applies only to the spring-release clause: the jury instruction lists it that way, but the statute's grammar is arguably ambiguous.","Meaning and enforcement of the 'locking blade device or case' clause is unclear to me; no case found.","Whether double-edged, dirk and dagger bans survive Bruen: untested.","Boston and other local knife ordinances not opened."],"store":"us"},{"id":"nl","name":"Netherlands","country":"Netherlands","region":"europe","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Dutch law names banned knives rather than banning all knives: switchblades, gravity/flick knives, butterfly knives, double-edged folders and folders over 28 cm open are banned outright, even at home. Ordinary single-edge folders up to 28 cm are tolerated, but local knife bans, venues and police circumstances can still catch you.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Wet wapens en munitie (WWM) art. 2 lid 1, categorie I onder 1° en 2°","url":"https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0008804/2026-07-01/0/Paragraaf1/Artikel2/","quote":"andere opvouwbare messen, indien: a. het lemmet meer dan een snijkant heeft; of b. de lengte in opengevouwen toestand langer dan 28 cm is"},{"title":"WWM art. 13 lid 1 (category I: carrying, possessing, transporting, importing banned)","url":"https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0008804/2026-07-01/0/Paragraaf1/Artikel2/","quote":"Het is verboden een wapen van categorie I ... voorhanden te hebben, te dragen, te vervoeren, te doen binnenkomen"},{"title":"WWM art. 2 lid 1, categorie IV onder 1° and 7° (double-edged fixed blades; catch-all by circumstances)","url":"https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0008804/2026-07-01/0/Paragraaf1/Artikel2/","quote":"blanke wapens waarvan het lemmet meer dan een snijkant heeft, voor zover zij niet vallen onder categorie I"},{"title":"WWM art. 27 lid 1 (carrying categories II, III, IV banned)","url":"https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0008804/2026-07-01/0/Paragraaf1/Artikel2/","quote":"Het is verboden een wapen van de categorieën II, III en IV te dragen."},{"title":"Regeling wapens en munitie art. 2 (definitions of stiletto, valmes, vlindermes)","url":"https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0008800/2025-08-01","quote":"dan wel door een zwaaibeweging of door zwaartekracht rechtstandig uit het heft wordt gebracht"},{"title":"Justis (Ministry of Justice and Security): Welke soorten messen zijn verboden?","url":"https://www.justis.nl/service-contact/veelgestelde-vragen/wwm/welke-soorten-messen-zijn-verboden","quote":"Een opvouwbaar zakmes van maximaal 28 centimeter (uitgevouwen) met 1 snijkant mag u in de meeste gevallen wel bij u hebben."},{"title":"Gerechtshof 's-Hertogenbosch ECLI:NL:GHSHE:2018:1972 (quoting legislator on folding knives)","url":"https://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/details?id=ECLI%3ANL%3AGHSHE%3A2018%3A1972","quote":"Andere opvouwbare messen zijn in beginsel geen wapen in de zin van de Wwm en dus niet verboden."},{"title":"Gemeentewet art. 151b (mayor may designate a veiligheidsrisicogebied) and WWM art. 50-52 lid 3 (stop-and-search powers)","url":"https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0005416&artikel=151b","quote":"In een veiligheidsrisicogebied kan de officier van justitie de bevoegdheden ... toepassen."}],"rules":[{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool"],"opening":["automatic"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Push-button/automatic folders are 'stiletto' or 'valmes' (category I): banned to carry, possess, transport or import, even at home. Politie says carrying one means a fine.","sourceUrl":"https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0008800/2025-08-01"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool"],"opening":["gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Butterfly (balisong) knives and flick/gravity knives fall under 'vlindermes' or 'valmes' (category I) and are banned outright, including at home and in luggage.","sourceUrl":"https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0008800/2025-08-01"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool"],"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Spring-assisted folders are not named. The 'valmes' definition covers blades pushed straight out by a release mechanism; Justis says 'with or without spring'. Whether assisted openers count is not settled in sources found. Avoid.","sourceUrl":"https://www.justis.nl/service-contact/veelgestelde-vragen/wwm/welke-soorten-messen-zijn-verboden"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool"],"double_edged":true},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"A folding knife whose blade has more than one cutting edge is category I and banned outright (carrying, possessing, transporting, importing).","sourceUrl":"https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0008804/2026-07-01/0/Paragraaf1/Artikel2/"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool"],"open_mm_gte":280.1},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"A folding knife longer than 28 cm when opened (overall length, not blade length) is category I and banned outright.","sourceUrl":"https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0008804/2026-07-01/0/Paragraaf1/Artikel2/"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool"],"lock":["none","liner","frame","back","axis","compression","ring","button","other"],"opening":["two-hand","one-hand-manual"],"double_edged":false,"open_mm_lte":280},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Single-edge manual folders up to 28 cm open are not a listed weapon; lock type does not matter. Not allowed in bars, stadiums, some venues or local knife-ban zones, and police can treat one as a weapon by circumstances.","sourceUrl":"https://www.justis.nl/service-contact/veelgestelde-vragen/wwm/welke-soorten-messen-zijn-verboden"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"],"double_edged":true},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Fixed blades with more than one cutting edge (daggers) are category IV: carrying is banned (art. 27) unless you hold a permit; no tourist exemption was found. Concealed 'disguised' blades are category I.","sourceUrl":"https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0008804/2026-07-01/0/Paragraaf1/Artikel2/"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"],"double_edged":false},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Single-edge fixed blades are not listed, but category IV-7 covers objects reasonably meant to injure given their nature or circumstances, and many councils ban carrying knives. No official text clears fixed blades; avoid carrying openly.","sourceUrl":"https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0008804/2026-07-01/0/Paragraaf1/Artikel2/"},{"when":{"form":["scissors-only","keychain-tool"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No specific rule found for these. The catch-all (category IV-7) and local bans can still apply if police judge it meant to injure; knuckle-style 'vilmes' and disguised blades are category I.","sourceUrl":"https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0008804/2026-07-01/0/Paragraaf1/Artikel2/"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Catch-all: combination not covered by a listed rule. Category I bans (including 'vilmes', ballistic knives, throwing stars, disguised blades) are absolute; check Wet wapens en munitie art. 2.","sourceUrl":"https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0008804/2026-07-01/0/Paragraaf1/Artikel2/"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"WWM art. 1 separates 'dragen' (on a public road or public place, ready for immediate use) from 'vervoeren' (packed so it cannot be used immediately). Category I weapons are banned for both. Category IV art. 27 bans only 'dragen'. Whether a knife in a car glovebox counts was not checked.","transportAndZones":"A mayor can designate a veiligheidsrisicogebied (Gemeentewet 151b/174b) for up to the shortest necessary time; the public prosecutor can then order searches of anyone for weapons for max 12 hours (WWM 50-52 lid 3). Separately, councils use APV art. 2:50a-type rules; Waddinxveen has banned carrying knives municipality-wide since 13 March 2026 for two years (an exemption needs both packed away AND a reasonable purpose). Check the local APV. Airport security zones carry heavier penalties (WWM 55 lid 3b).","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"Politie and Justis say pocket knives are not allowed in bars/horeca or football stadiums. The exact legal basis for those venues (house rules, APV, or other law) was not verified. Schools and events: not verified.","ageLimits":"No statutory minimum age found for buying or carrying ordinary single-edge knives. WWM art. 31 lid 4 bans handing category IV weapons to under-18s. A planned national ban on carrying/selling knives to minors was not enacted (see pending).","buyingImporting":"Category I knives may not be imported ('doen binnenkomen') or transferred; ordering a butterfly, automatic or double-edged folder online for delivery to NL is an offence. Justis says trade and possession of stiletto/valmes/vlindermes has been banned since 1 May 2012. Customs rules for other knives were not checked.","penalties":"Category I (art. 55 lid 1): prison up to 9 months or a fourth-category fine; up to 8 years if on a plane or at a designated airport (art. 55 lid 3b). Category IV carrying (art. 54): third-category fine (an 'overtreding'). Euro amounts not verified. Items are seized.","recentChanges":"Regeling wapens en munitie current version in force since 1 Aug 2025. Knife categories were read in the WWM version in force since 1 Jul 2026 (earlier versions not compared). Many councils added or renewed knife-ban APV rules in 2025-2026 (e.g. Venlo APV amendment of 9 Apr 2025, seen only in a search excerpt; Waddinxveen 13 Mar 2026).","pending":"Government is preparing a completely new Wet wapens en munitie (Kamerbrief 17 Jun 2026; no knife details checked). A motion (Bikkers, 27 May 2026) asks the government to bring a bill for a national knife-carrying ban; whether it was adopted was not verified."},"goodReasonExamples":[],"officialLinks":[{"title":"Wet wapens en munitie (wetten.overheid.nl)","url":"https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0008804/"},{"title":"Regeling wapens en munitie","url":"https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0008800/2025-08-01"},{"title":"Justis: Welke soorten messen zijn verboden?","url":"https://www.justis.nl/service-contact/veelgestelde-vragen/wwm/welke-soorten-messen-zijn-verboden"},{"title":"Politie.nl: Mag ik een mes op zak hebben?","url":"https://www.politie.nl/informatie/is-het-illegaal-om-een-trainer---soort-mes-te-hebben.html"},{"title":"Gemeentewet (veiligheidsrisicogebied, art. 151b, 174b)","url":"https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0005416&artikel=151b"},{"title":"Example local ban: Aanwijzingsbesluit messen- en steekwapenverbod Waddinxveen","url":"https://lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl/CVDR758108"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Are spring-assisted folders 'valmessen' under Regeling art. 2 b? No court ruling or official statement found.","Is a single-edge fixed blade (e.g. camping knife) treated as category IV-7 when carried openly? No official guidance found.","The 'hanteren' concept you asked about does not appear in the WWM text read; the law uses 'dragen' (art. 1 lid 10). Not verified in case law.","Legal basis for the 'no pocket knives in horeca/stadiums' statement by Justis/Politie was not identified.","Euro amounts of fine categories and the Hoge Raad's current stance on category IV-7 and folders were not verified.","Regeling art. 26-30 (exemptions for category IV) and WWM art. 26 (possession) were only skimmed."],"store":"nl"},{"id":"us-nj","name":"New Jersey","country":"United States","region":"north-america","lastVerified":"2026-10-27","summary":"New Jersey has no blade-length rule. Switchblades, gravity knives, daggers, dirks and stilettos are possession offences unless you have an explainable lawful purpose. Any other knife that counts as a weapon is an offence when carried under circumstances not manifestly appropriate for lawful use. Context decides outcomes.","legalBasis":[{"title":"N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(e) Prohibited weapons (text as amended by P.L.2018 c.161)","url":"https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2018/AL18/161_.HTM","quote":"any gravity knife, switchblade knife, dagger, dirk, stiletto... without any explainable lawful purpose, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree."},{"title":"NJ State Police Firearms FAQ quoting N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(d) and 2C:39-5(e)","url":"https://njsp.njoag.gov/firearms-faqs","quote":"any other weapon under circumstances not manifestly appropriate for such lawful uses as it may have is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree."},{"title":"N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5 (Justia copy, 2025)","url":"https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-2c/section-2c-39-5","quote":"any other weapon under circumstances not manifestly appropriate for such lawful uses as it may have"}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Switchblades (button/spring in handle) are listed in 2C:39-3(e). Possession without an explainable lawful purpose is a fourth-degree crime. Statute is the burden-on-carrier type; courts read 'explainable' narrowly, so carry is high risk.","sourceUrl":"https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2018/AL18/161_.HTM"},{"when":{"opening":["gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"'Gravity knife' means a blade released by gravity or centrifugal force; listed in 2C:39-3(e). Balisongs and flick knives plausibly fall inside. Fourth-degree crime without an explainable lawful purpose. Whether a given balisong qualifies is not settled in sources we read.","sourceUrl":"https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2018/AL18/161_.HTM"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Switchblade is defined as opening 'automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in the handle'. Thumb-stud or flipper assisted knives are arguably outside that, but no authority found either way; 'dangerous knife' catch-all still applies.","sourceUrl":"https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2018/AL18/161_.HTM"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"],"double_edged":[true]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Double-edged fixed blades fit 'dagger, dirk, stiletto' in 2C:39-3(e). 'Dagger' is not statutorily defined, so a court decides; carrying without an explainable lawful purpose is a fourth-degree crime.","sourceUrl":"https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2018/AL18/161_.HTM"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Not named, but a fixed blade can be a 'weapon' under 2C:39-1 ('other dangerous knives'). Carry is an offence under 2C:39-5(d) if circumstances are not manifestly appropriate (e.g. hunting, fishing, work). Concealed urban carry is risky.","sourceUrl":"https://njsp.njoag.gov/firearms-faqs"},{"when":{"form":["folder"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"No length or lock limit in statute. A pocket folder is an offence only if treated as a weapon carried under circumstances not manifestly appropriate. Practitioners say outcome depends on intent, context, and officer/prosecutor discretion.","sourceUrl":"https://njsp.njoag.gov/firearms-faqs"},{"when":{"form":["multitool","keychain-tool","scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No specific restriction found for tools or scissors. They are not named in 2C:39-3(e); general 2C:39-5(d) still applies if used or carried as a weapon.","sourceUrl":"https://njsp.njoag.gov/firearms-faqs"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Catch-all: New Jersey has no clear safe-harbour for knives. The outcome turns on whether the item is a 'weapon' and on circumstances of carry.","sourceUrl":"https://njsp.njoag.gov/firearms-faqs"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"No knife-specific vehicle rule found. 2C:39-5(d) 'not manifestly appropriate' test applies; knives stored in a trunk or tool box are easier to explain than one in the cabin.","transportAndZones":"Not verified for NJ Transit or airports. Federal rules apply at airports (TSA): knives are not allowed in carry-on.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"2C:39-5(e)(2): any weapon in 2C:39-1(r)(3)-(4) (includes gravity/switchblade/dagger/dirk and other dangerous knives) or other weapon on school/college grounds without written authorisation is a fourth-degree crime.","ageLimits":"Not verified: no knife-specific age statute found.","buyingImporting":"Not verified. Possessing a switchblade/gravity knife is the offence, so ordering one for delivery to NJ is high risk. Check retailer shipping restrictions.","penalties":"Fourth-degree crime under 2C:39-3(e) and 2C:39-5(d),(e); NJ fourth degree is up to 18 months (general sentencing law, not re-checked this session).","recentChanges":"P.L.2025 c.255 (approved 12 Jan 2026) amended 2C:39-1 and 2C:39-3 on firearms/antiques; We could not read its knife effect. P.L.2018 c.161 changed 2C:39-3 (law-enforcement magazines), knife text unchanged.","pending":"Bill A5128 (2026 session) would amend 2C:39-1/2C:39-3; knife changes not confirmed. Check pub.njleg.gov."},"goodReasonExamples":["Hunting, fishing or camping trip","Work tool use (trade, kitchen, farm)","Transporting a purchased knife home from the store"],"officialLinks":[{"title":"NJ State Police Firearms FAQ","url":"https://njsp.njoag.gov/firearms-faqs"},{"title":"P.L.2018 c.161 (2C:39-3)","url":"https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2018/AL18/161_.HTM"},{"title":"2C:39-5 (Justia)","url":"https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-2c/section-2c-39-5"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["njleg.state.nj.us was unreachable from the sandbox, so current 2C:39-1 definitions (dagger/dirk, school-zone wording) were read via secondary excerpts only.","Whether assisted-opening knives and balisongs are 'switchblade' or 'gravity' knives under NJ case law.","Whether any NJ statute preempts local knife ordinances.","Knife age limits.","Verified 2026-10-27 from the enrolled P.L.2018 c.161 text on pub.njleg.gov: 2C:39-3(e) lists gravity knife, switchblade knife, dagger, dirk, stiletto and ballistic knife 'without any explainable lawful purpose' (fourth degree). The 2C:39-5(d) 'not manifestly appropriate' offence and the 2C:39-1 definitions are still read from secondary sources only."],"store":"us"},{"id":"au-nsw","name":"New South Wales","country":"Australia","region":"oceania","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Having any knife in a public place or school is an offence (up to 4 years) unless you prove a reasonable excuse such as work, food preparation, sport or religion; self-defence is not one. Flick, butterfly, push-dagger and similar knives are prohibited weapons needing a permit. Police can scan for knives.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Crimes Act 1900 s.93IB","url":"https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-1900-040","quote":"A person must not have in the person's custody a knife in a public place or a school."},{"title":"Crimes Act 1900 s.93IB(4)","url":"https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-1900-040","quote":"It is not a reasonable excuse for the person to have a knife in the person's custody for self-defence"},{"title":"Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 Sch 1 cl 1","url":"https://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/wpa1998231/sch1.html","quote":"A flick knife ... has a blade which opens automatically by gravity or centrifugal force or by any pressure applied to a button, spring or device"},{"title":"Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 s.7","url":"https://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/wpa1998231/s7.html","quote":"A person must not possess or use a prohibited weapon unless the person is authorised to do so by a permit."}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic","gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Flick knives (blade opens by gravity, centrifugal force or button/spring) and butterfly/balisong knives are prohibited weapons; possession needs a permit (up to 14 years). A permit needs a genuine reason; ordinary EDC is not one.","sourceUrl":"https://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/wpa1998231/sch1.html"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"The flick-knife definition covers blades opening 'by any pressure applied to a button, spring or device'. Whether a spring-assisted flipper is caught is untested; if not, it is an ordinary knife needing an excuse (s.93IB).","sourceUrl":"https://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/wpa1998231/sch1.html"},{"when":{"form":["scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Scissors only: no specific restriction found; 'knife includes a blade' so a scissor blade is arguable. Not tested.","sourceUrl":"https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-1900-040"},{"when":{},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Any knife or blade in a public place or school, including pocket knives and multitools with a blade, is an offence unless you prove a reasonable excuse (work, food, sport, uniform, genuine religious purpose; self-defence excluded). Burden is on you.","sourceUrl":"https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-1900-040"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"Not specifically exempt; a knife in a car parked in a public place may still be in your custody.","transportAndZones":"Police may 'wand' (scan) in designated areas: stations, shopping precincts, sporting venues, and (expanded) major entertainment venues. Declarations lengthen to 24 hours. Per a NSW Government release (25 June 2026) and a 21 Oct 2026 local news report, the Bill passed and makes powers permanent; commencement not verified.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"Schools are expressly covered by s.93IB. Using or visibly carrying a knife in a way that makes a reasonable person fear for safety is a separate offence (s.93IC, up to 4 years).","ageLimits":"Sale to a child under 16 is an offence (Summary Offences Act s.11F per secondary source); a 2026 reform bars sale to 16-17s without reasonable excuse (commencement unverified).","buyingImporting":"Importing prohibited knives needs a permit and federal import permission. Buying prohibited weapons without a permit is an offence for the seller and buyer; the Act restricts sending or receiving them.","penalties":"s.93IB: 40 penalty units or 4 years. s.93IC: 100 penalty units or 4 years. s.7 Weapons Prohibition Act: up to 14 years.","recentChanges":"Knife offences moved from Summary Offences Act to Crimes Act with doubled penalties (Knife Crimes Act 2023). Crimes and Summary Offences Amendment Act 2026 (No 21) assented 29 June 2026. Knife scanning made permanent (Parliament, Oct 2026 per press).","pending":"Commencement of 2026 sale-to-16/17-year-olds and permanent wanding provisions not verified."},"goodReasonExamples":["Lawful occupation, education or training","Preparation or consumption of food or drink","Lawful entertainment, recreation or sport","Genuine religious purposes","Travel to or from those activities"],"officialLinks":[{"title":"NSW Police prohibited weapon permits","url":"https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms/permits/prohibited_weapon_permits"},{"title":"NSW Government: knife crackdown release","url":"https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/minns-labor-government-cracking-down-on-knives-dangerous-weapons"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["s.93IB(3)(c) prescribed circumstances in the Regulation not read; 'knife of a class prescribed' exclusions not checked.","Sale-age provisions (s.11F) not read in primary text.","Schedule 1 items for zombie/serrated knives (cl 1(8)) read only partly; whether other designs are listed was not exhaustively checked.","Effect of the 2026 amendment acts on s.93IB not verified."],"store":"au"},{"id":"us-ny-nyc","name":"New York City","country":"United States","region":"north-america","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"State law applies (switchblades banned) plus city code 10-133: no knife with a 4 in or longer blade in public, and no knife carried in open view, including a visible clip, unless a listed exception applies such as work, hunting or transport from purchase. Transit system bans weapons.","legalBasis":[{"title":"NYC Admin. Code 10-133(b)","url":"https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCadmin/0-0-0-6303","quote":"any knife which has a blade length of four inches or more."},{"title":"NYC Admin. Code 10-133(c)","url":"https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCadmin/0-0-0-6303","quote":"wear outside of his or her clothing or carry in open view any knife with an exposed or unexposed blade"},{"title":"NYPD knives FAQ","url":"https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/about/faq/knives-faq.page","quote":"When any portion of the knife is visible, such as the clip, hinge or top, this is considered in public view."}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Switchblade possession is a state misdemeanour (Penal Law 265.01(1)) and applies in the city.","sourceUrl":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/265.01"},{"when":{"blade_mm_gte":101.6},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Carrying any knife with blade 4 in or longer in a public place, street or park is barred, concealed or not, except listed exceptions (work, hunting, transport from purchase).","sourceUrl":"https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCadmin/0-0-0-6303"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"State 'opens automatically' definition may or may not cover spring-assist; not verified. City open-view rule applies as well.","sourceUrl":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/265.00"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool","keychain-tool","scissors-only","fixed"]},"verdict":"restricted","reason":"Under 4 in blades: must be fully out of view. A pocket clip, hinge or top showing counts as open view per NYPD. Fixed blades worn outside clothing are barred.","sourceUrl":"https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/about/faq/knives-faq.page"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Items not classified; open-view and 4 in rules may still apply.","sourceUrl":"https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCadmin/0-0-0-6303"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"State presumption applies to switchblades or daggers in cars (265.15(3)). City rule covers public places; vehicle specifics not verified.","transportAndZones":"NYPD: weapons may not be carried anywhere within the NYC Transit System.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"Not verified for city specifics; state school-grounds offence 265.01-A exists.","ageLimits":"Not verified.","buyingImporting":"Not verified for city; state limits apply. Many retailers refuse to ship knives to NY; We did not verify any statute requiring that.","penalties":"10-133(e) (current amlegal text): offence, fine up to $300 and/or up to 15 days. An older mirror says class B misdemeanour; treat the amlegal text as current. State 265.01: class A misdemeanour.","recentChanges":"State gravity knife ban repealed 30 May 2019. amlegal marks 10-133 as current October 2026; no amendment seen.","pending":"None verified."},"goodReasonExamples":["Work customarily requiring the knife","Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, picnicking","Transporting directly to/from purchase, sharpening or repair, packaged inaccessibly","Scouts or similar organisation activities"],"officialLinks":[{"title":"NYC Admin. Code 10-133","url":"https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCadmin/0-0-0-6303"},{"title":"NYPD knives FAQ","url":"https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/about/faq/knives-faq.page"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Whether blade length means blade or edge is not defined in the text","Hunting-exception scope nuance not verified","Enforcement of 'visible clip' reading is NYPD interpretation, not statute text"],"store":"us"},{"id":"us-ny","name":"New York State (outside NYC local rules)","country":"United States","region":"north-america","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Possessing a switchblade (automatic) knife, cane sword, metal knuckle knife or ballistic knife is a misdemeanour. Gravity knives were removed from the ban on 30 May 2019. Daggers and other knives are an offence only with intent to use unlawfully, which police may infer. No statewide blade-length limit; New York City adds its own rules.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Penal Law 265.01(1)-(2)","url":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/265.01","quote":"He or she possesses any firearm, electronic dart gun, electronic stun gun, switchblade knife, pilum ballistic knife, metal knuckle knife, cane sword"},{"title":"Penal Law 265.00(4)-(5) definitions","url":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/265.00","quote":"\"Switchblade knife\" means any knife which has a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in the handle"},{"title":"NYPD knives FAQ (2019 repeal)","url":"https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/about/faq/knives-faq.page","quote":"On May 30, 2019, the New York State ban on gravity knives was repealed."}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Mere possession of a switchblade is a class A misdemeanour under 265.01(1). The definition covers button or spring release in the handle.","sourceUrl":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/265.01"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Definition requires a blade that 'opens automatically'. Whether spring-assisted knives qualify depends on the mechanism and police/court view; We did not verify case law. Treat with caution.","sourceUrl":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/265.00"},{"when":{"opening":["gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Gravity knives dropped from the per-se weapons list in 265.01(1) on 30 May 2019. NYPD still warns of arrest depending on circumstances and intent.","sourceUrl":"https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/about/faq/knives-faq.page"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No statewide length or carry ban found. Daggers, dirks and dangerous knives are an offence if possessed with intent to use unlawfully; possession itself is presumptive evidence of that intent (265.15(4)).","sourceUrl":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/265.15"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool","keychain-tool","scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.","sourceUrl":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/265.01"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No specific statewide restriction found for other items; intent-based offences still apply.","sourceUrl":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/265.01"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"Switchblade or dagger found in a car is presumed possessed by all occupants unless on one person's body (265.15(3)).","transportAndZones":"Schools: 265.01-A school-grounds offence exists (text not read). NYC transit bans weapons (NYPD). Other zones not verified.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"School grounds offence under 265.01-A not opened this session; courts and federal buildings have separate rules.","ageLimits":"No statewide age limit found for ordinary knives; not verified.","buyingImporting":"Manufacturing or shipping switchblades as merchandise is a class A misdemeanour (265.10). Many online retailers refuse NY shipping for automatics; ordinary knives may be bought. Import rules not checked.","penalties":"265.01 possession: class A misdemeanour (up to 1 year).","recentChanges":"30 May 2019: gravity knives removed from 265.01(1). nysenate.gov shows latest revision 2024-11-29; no 2025-2026 change seen.","pending":"None verified."},"goodReasonExamples":[],"officialLinks":[{"title":"Penal Law 265.01","url":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/265.01"},{"title":"Penal Law 265.15 presumptions","url":"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/265.15"},{"title":"NYPD knives FAQ","url":"https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/about/faq/knives-faq.page"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Spring-assisted status under NY case law","265.01-A and 265.02 not read","Statewide preemption of local knife laws not checked"],"store":"us"},{"id":"nz","name":"New Zealand","country":"New Zealand","region":"oceania","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Carrying any knife in a public place without reasonable excuse is an offence, with no length or type exceptions. Work, trade, fishing and similar uses can be an excuse; self-defence is not. Flick, gravity and butterfly knives cannot be imported without Police consent. Burden of proving excuse is effectively on the carrier.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Summary Offences Act 1981 s.13A","url":"https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1981/0113/latest/DLM53545.html","quote":"in any public place, without reasonable excuse, has any knife in his or her possession."},{"title":"Crimes Act 1961 s.202A","url":"https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/43/en/latest/","quote":"without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, has with him or her in any public place any knife or offensive weapon"},{"title":"Customs Import Prohibition (Offensive Weapons) Order 2021, Sch 2","url":"https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2021/0215/latest/whole.html","quote":"Any knife, with the exception of a folding pocket knife with a blade less than 10 cm in length"},{"title":"Arms Act 2026 s.11 'restricted weapon'","url":"https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2026/47/en/2026-09-04B.pdf","quote":"restricted weapon means anything ... declared by the Governor-General, by Order in Council made under section 376"}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic","gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Same carry offence as any knife (reasonable excuse needed), but a flick/gravity/butterfly knife is an 'offensive weapon' for import and a reasonable excuse is very unlikely. Importing one without Police consent is prohibited.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2021/0215/latest/whole.html"},{"when":{"form":["scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Scissors are not a 'knife' in the ordinary sense (Police policy: sharp-edged blade with a handle); no specific restriction found. A weapon-intent circumstance could still make any item an offensive weapon.","sourceUrl":"https://policepolicy.nz/policies/offensive-weapons-knives-and-disabling-substances/u-aejyv/offensive-weapons-knives-and-disabling-substances-150922.pdf"},{"when":{},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Any knife, including folders, fixed blades and multitools with a blade, in a public place needs a reasonable excuse (s.13A, s.202A). No blade-length exemption. Work, trade, fishing, camping or religious (kirpan) use can qualify; self-defence does not.","sourceUrl":"https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1981/0113/latest/DLM53545.html"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"'Public place' includes any vehicle carrying or available to carry passengers for reward, and a person in a vehicle in a public place is in a public place. Police may stop and search vehicles on reasonable suspicion of a s.202A(4)(a) offence.","transportAndZones":"Public transport counts as a public place. Airports: butterfly, double-edged, ejector, flick, push and disguised knives are offensive weapons barred from carriage; carrying them at an airport is an offence.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"Schools and workplaces are not 'public places' by default, but s.202A(4)(b) applies anywhere if circumstances show intent to use a knife for violence. School/venue rules are separate.","ageLimits":"No statutory minimum age for carrying or buying an ordinary knife found in the Acts read; a Ministry of Justice RIS discussed but did not itself create an age limit. Unverified whether sale-age law has since been enacted.","buyingImporting":"Importing a flick, butterfly/gravity, knuckle or disguised knife, swordstick, bayonet, or (except a folding pocket knife under 10 cm blade) any knife designed for concealment, double-edged for stabbing/throwing, or fist/push/throwing type needs Arms Regulator (formerly Police) consent. Ordinary folders under 10 cm and ordinary other knives are not on the list; domestic online sales were not checked.","penalties":"s.13A: up to 3 months or $2,000 fine, knife forfeitable. s.202A(4): up to 3 years. A second s.202A conviction within 2 years requires imprisonment unless special circumstances (s.202BA).","recentChanges":"Arms Act 2026 in force 23 Sept 2026 replaced the Arms Act 1983 and revoked the 1984 restricted-weapons Order (which listed only gas weapons, no knives). Crimes Act s.202A text was unchanged by the 2026 amendment acts as far as history notes show. Customs order clause 4(2)(a) amended 23 Sept 2026 to name the Arms Regulator.","pending":"Arms Act 2026 allows new restricted-weapon Orders in Council (s.376); none naming knives was found."},"goodReasonExamples":["Tradesperson or worker using it for their job","Fishing, hunting, camping or food preparation","Sikh kirpan carried for religious reasons (Police policy treats as reasonable excuse)"],"officialLinks":[{"title":"NZ Police policy: offensive weapons and knives","url":"https://policepolicy.nz/policies/offensive-weapons-knives-and-disabling-substances/u-aejyv/offensive-weapons-knives-and-disabling-substances-150922.pdf"},{"title":"NZ Customs prohibitions and restrictions","url":"https://www.customs.govt.nz/business/import/import-prohibited-and-restricted-imports/prohibitions-and-restrictions"},{"title":"Aviation Security: illegal knives","url":"https://www.aviation.govt.nz/passenger-information/what-can-i-bring/show/illegal-knives"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Case law on what counts as 'reasonable excuse' (e.g. general utility carry, EDC) not read; Police policy says self-defence is not valid only through secondary summaries.","Whether an Order in Council under the Arms Act 2026 declares any knife a restricted weapon was not verified.","Section 202A text on the latest version was read via search extract and a summary page, not the section page itself.","Age restriction on knife sales not verified."],"store":"au"},{"id":"gb-ni","name":"Northern Ireland","country":"United Kingdom","region":"uk-ie","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Section 139 Criminal Justice Act 1988 applies in Northern Ireland with the same wording as England: any blade or point in public is an offence unless you prove good reason or lawful authority, with a non-locking folding pocketknife (edge up to 3 inches) excluded. Flick/gravity knives are banned for sale; private possession bans are still pending.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Criminal Justice Act 1988 s139 (N.I. version)","url":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139","quote":"It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he had good reason or lawful authority"},{"title":"Criminal Justice Act 1988 s139A (school premises, N.I. version)","url":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139A","quote":"Any person who has an article to which section 139 of this Act applies with him on school premises shall be guilty of an offence."},{"title":"Criminal Justice (NI) Order 1996 Art 53 (flick and gravity knives)","url":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1996/3160/article/53","quote":"any knife which has a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device"},{"title":"NI Assembly Justice Committee SL1 on commencing private-possession offences","url":"https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/committee-blocks/justice/2022-2027/delegated-legislation/sl1-the-criminal-justice-act-1988-offensive-weapons-amendment-surrender-and-compensation-order-northern-ireland-2026/revised-sl1-for-consideration-of-the-justice-committee.pdf","quote":"Possession of these weapons in public is already an offence in Northern Ireland."}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["gravity-or-inertia","automatic"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Flick, gravity and butterfly knives: sale, hire and gifting are offences (Art 53, Order 1988 list) and UK import is banned. The Department of Justice says public possession is already an offence; a ban on private possession is awaiting commencement (planned early 2027).","sourceUrl":"https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/committee-blocks/justice/2022-2027/delegated-legislation/sl1-the-criminal-justice-act-1988-offensive-weapons-amendment-surrender-and-compensation-order-northern-ireland-2026/revised-sl1-for-consideration-of-the-justice-committee.pdf"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Spring-assisted knives: Art 53 in force in NI uses the old definition (mechanism in or attached to the handle). The wider 2019 definition is not yet commenced in NI. Guidance and case law are from England. Treat as needing a good reason.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1996/3160/article/53"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"lock":["none"],"edge_mm_lte":76.2},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"A non-locking folding pocketknife with a cutting edge of 3 inches (76.2 mm) or less is outside s139. No specific restriction found for carrying it in public; school and prison rules still apply.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"lock":["none"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"A non-locking folder with an edge over 3 inches is inside s139. You must prove good reason or lawful authority.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"lock":["ring","other"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Ring locks and unusual or disabled locks: no authority found for NI or England. Treat as needing a good reason.","sourceUrl":"https://www.cps.gov.uk/prosecution-guidance/knife-and-other-weapons-offences"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"lock":["liner","frame","back","axis","compression","button"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"English precedent (Deegan, Harris, Sharma) says a blade that locks is not a 'folding pocketknife'. NI s139 has identical wording, but we found no NI-court decision. Assume a good reason is needed.","sourceUrl":"https://crimeline.co.uk/sharma-v-director-of-public-prosecutions-2018-ewhc-3330-admin/"},{"when":{"form":["multitool"],"lock":["none"],"edge_mm_lte":76.2},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"A multitool whose blade cannot lock and whose cutting edge is 3 inches or less fits the s139 exemption on its wording. No NI case found.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139"},{"when":{"form":["multitool"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"A multitool with a locking blade or an edge over 3 inches is within s139; you need a good reason such as work.","sourceUrl":"https://www.essex.police.uk/foi-ai/essex-police/our-policies-and-procedures/d/d0711-procedure-police-carriage-of-multi-tools/"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Fixed blades are never within the exemption. Carrying one in public needs a good reason (work, religion, national costume are listed).","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139"},{"when":{"form":["keychain-tool","scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"s139 covers any article with a blade or sharp point except a folding pocketknife. Keyring tools or scissors are untested; blades disguised as everyday objects such as keys are banned.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Combination not covered above. Assume a good reason is needed.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"No NI-specific text read. England & Wales case law on 'has with him' (knife within reach, e.g. in a car) is persuasive only. A vehicle on a public road is a public place.","transportAndZones":"'Public place' covers anywhere the public have or are permitted access, on payment or not (s139(7)). UK airport hand-luggage rule: no sharp/pointed blade or blade over 6 cm in hand luggage (gov.uk; applies at NI airports to UK flights, not checked separately).","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"s139A (NI version) makes it an offence to have a s139 article or offensive weapon on school premises, with defences of good reason/lawful authority, work, educational purposes, religion, national costume; the carrier must prove them. The NI s139A text does not mention further-education premises, though s141(1E) does, so coverage there is unclear. Police can enter and search school premises (s139B).","ageLimits":"Selling a knife or blade to under-18s is an offence (Art 54, 1996 Order); non-locking folding knives of 3 inches or less are exempt under the UK-wide Exemption Order 1996 (not specifically checked for NI). No minimum age to carry found.","buyingImporting":"Residents can buy ordinary knives. Remote-sale age checks (Art 54A) and OWA 2019 Part 3 delivery offences: England/Wales and Scotland commencement dates are shown, but we found none for NI, so whether NI-specific delivery offences are live is unverified. Banned weapons cannot be imported (gov.uk UK-wide guidance). The 2026 Act provisions on photo-ID checks for NI online sales (s34) await a Department of Justice commencement order.","penalties":"s139 (NI): up to 12 months and/or fine up to the statutory maximum on summary conviction; up to 4 years and/or fine on indictment.","recentChanges":"2026: Department of Justice published draft rules (SL1 to Justice Committee, 2 July 2026) to commence the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 private-possession offences for flick/gravity knives and listed weapons, add zombie, zombie-style, cyclone knives and ninja swords to the NI banned list, and run a 3-month surrender and compensation scheme first. A surrender scheme and bins were being rolled out in October 2026. Press reports (Derry Journal 12 Oct 2026) say the offences follow after the three months. We could not confirm the final made rules or exact dates.","pending":"Private-possession bans, zombie/zombie-style/cyclone/ninja sword additions to the NI list, wider flick-knife definition (DoJ planned early 2027). Crime and Policing Act 2026 ss34, 39-41, 43 (NI age verification and bulk-sale reporting) await DoJ orders (s255(8))."},"goodReasonExamples":["Use at work","Religious reasons (kirpan)","National costume","Taking a knife to or from surrender at a police station under the planned scheme: DoJ guidance says this is likely a good reason if sealed and concealed in transit"],"officialLinks":[{"title":"Criminal Justice Act 1988 s139","url":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139"},{"title":"NI Assembly Justice Committee SL1 (private possession, surrender)","url":"https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/committee-blocks/justice/2022-2027/delegated-legislation/sl1-the-criminal-justice-act-1988-offensive-weapons-amendment-surrender-and-compensation-order-northern-ireland-2026/revised-sl1-for-consideration-of-the-justice-committee.pdf"},{"title":"GOV.UK: Selling, buying and carrying knives and weapons","url":"https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Whether the draft DoJ rules were made as drafted and when the private-possession offences start.","Whether NI courts follow Deegan/Sharma on locking folders (no NI authority read).","Commencement of OWA 2019 ss38-42 (delivery) in NI not found.","NI s139A and further-education premises coverage.","nidirect page for NI knife law returned 404; no nidirect source used."],"store":"uk"},{"id":"us-pa","name":"Pennsylvania","country":"United States","region":"north-america","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Pennsylvania has no statewide blade-length, lock or opening-type limit; automatic knives were removed from the offensive-weapons definition in 2022. Intent to use a weapon criminally, schools, and court facilities are the main limits. There is no knife preemption, and Philadelphia's ordinance bans cutting weapons on streets (enforcement reportedly halted by a 2023 settlement).","legalBasis":[{"title":"18 Pa.C.S. 908 Prohibited offensive weapons (as amended by Act 119 of 2022)","url":"https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.009.008.000..HTM","quote":"any blackjack, sandbag, metal knuckles ... or other implement for the infliction of serious bodily injury which serves no common lawful purpose."},{"title":"18 Pa.C.S. 912 Weapon on school property","url":"https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.009.012.000..HTM","quote":"\"weapon\" ... shall include but not be limited to any knife, cutting instrument, cutting tool"},{"title":"AKTI Pennsylvania summary (secondary)","url":"https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/pennsylvania","quote":"restrictions on the commerce, possession, and carry of automatic knives originally enacted in April of 1956 have been removed."}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic","assisted","gravity-or-inertia","one-hand-manual","two-hand"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Since Act 119 of 2022 the offensive-weapons definition no longer lists knives, so no statewide opening-type ban. Carrying with intent to use criminally (s.907) and brandishing remain offences. Philadelphia and school/court rules still apply.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.009.008.000..HTM"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"],"double_edged":[true]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No statewide dagger or double-edge rule found after Act 119 of 2022. Intent to use criminally and place rules still apply. Pre-2022 'dagger' language was deleted from s.908.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.009.008.000..HTM"},{"when":{"form":["fixed","folder","multitool","keychain-tool","scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No statewide blade-length, lock or concealment rule found. Knives are barred on K-12 school property and in court facilities, and Philadelphia has its own ordinance.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.009.012.000..HTM"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Catch-all: no statewide knife restriction found; check local ordinances (especially Philadelphia) and location rules.","sourceUrl":"https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/pennsylvania"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"No knife-specific vehicle rule found.","transportAndZones":"Philadelphia Code 10-820 prohibits any cutting weapon on streets/public property; AKTI reports a 2023 court-approved settlement making it unenforceable (secondary, not verified on court docket). SEPTA rules not checked. No statewide airport rule; TSA applies.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"18 Pa.C.S. 912: any knife or cutting tool in buildings, grounds, or transport of K-12 schools is a first-degree misdemeanor, subject to a lawful-purpose defence. Court facilities (s.913) also ban dangerous weapons; We did not open s.913.","ageLimits":"Per AKTI, selling or giving a deadly weapon to someone under 18 is unlawful (18 Pa.C.S. 6302); not opened on legis site.","buyingImporting":"No state restriction on buying or shipping knives found, automatics included, since the 2022 change. Philadelphia delivery risk not assessed.","penalties":"Section 912 and s.908 are first-degree misdemeanors; other penalty details not verified.","recentChanges":"Act 119 of 2022 (P.L.1782, eff. 60 days after 3 Nov 2022, so about 3 Jan 2023) removed knives from 'offensive weapons'. Many retailer pages still call automatics illegal in PA.","pending":"None found."},"goodReasonExamples":[],"officialLinks":[{"title":"18 Pa.C.S. 908","url":"https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.009.008.000..HTM"},{"title":"18 Pa.C.S. 912","url":"https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.009.012.000..HTM"},{"title":"18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 9","url":"https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.009..HTM"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["No statute text for s.907, s.913, s.6302 was opened; relied on AKTI.","Current status of Philadelphia 10-820 (settlement per AKTI only).","Absence of knife preemption inferred from AKTI, not primary text.","Other cities' ordinances not surveyed."],"store":"us"},{"id":"pl","name":"Poland","country":"Poland","region":"europe","lastVerified":"2026-10-27","summary":"Polish law has no general ban on carrying an ordinary knife in public. Art. 50a of the Misdemeanours Code punishes having a knife in public only when circumstances show intent to commit a crime. Knives hidden in everyday objects, brass knuckles and similar items are treated as regulated 'weapons'. Knives are banned at mass events. Public debate on stricter rules is active after October 2026 school attacks.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Kodeks wykroczeń, art. 50a (Dz.U. 2025 poz. 734 consolidated text)","url":"https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2025/734/text.pdf","quote":"a okoliczności jego posiadania wskazują na zamiar użycia go w celu popełnienia przestępstwa"},{"title":"Ustawa o broni i amunicji, art. 4 ust. 1 pkt 4 (Dz.U. 2024 poz. 485)","url":"https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2024/485/text.pdf","quote":"broń białą w postaci: – ostrzy ukrytych w przedmiotach niemających wyglądu broni, – kastetów i nunczaków"},{"title":"Ustawa o broni i amunicji, art. 2","url":"https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2024/485/text.pdf","quote":"Poza przypadkami określonymi w ustawie nabywanie, posiadanie oraz zbywanie broni i amunicji jest zabronione."},{"title":"Ustawa o bezpieczeństwie imprez masowych, art. 8 ust. 2 and art. 59 (lexlege.pb.pl, 2026)","url":"https://lexlege.pb.pl/ustawa-o-bezpieczenstwie-imprez-masowych","quote":"Zabrania się wnoszenia na imprezę masową i posiadania przez osoby w niej uczestniczące broni lub innych niebezpiecznych przedmiotów"},{"title":"Policja (Informacyjny Serwis Policyjny, 8 Feb 2021): 'Czy wiesz, że?' on Art. 50a Kw","url":"https://isp.policja.pl/isp/aktualnosci/15866,Czy-wiesz-ze.html","quote":"Nie poniesie odpowiedzialności z tego przepisu osoba posiadająca przy sobie nóż, mająca go np. w kieszeni lub na pasku."}],"rules":[{"when":{"special":["disguised"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"A blade hidden in an object that does not look like a weapon (e.g. cane, pen, belt buckle) is 'broń' under art. 4(1)(4). Possession is banned unless you hold a weapons permit, which for such items is not realistic for ordinary people.","sourceUrl":"https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2024/485/text.pdf"},{"when":{"opening":["automatic","gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Switchblades and butterfly knives are not on the art. 4 list of regulated 'broń biała', so no ban or permit was found. Art. 50a still applies if circumstances show intent to commit a crime. Common web claims of a ban were not found in the statute.","sourceUrl":"https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2024/485/text.pdf"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Police state that having a knife in a pocket or on a belt is not an offence under art. 50a. It becomes one if circumstances indicate intent to commit a crime, for example brandishing it. Mass events, schools and private venues have separate rules.","sourceUrl":"https://isp.policja.pl/isp/aktualnosci/15866,Czy-wiesz-ze.html"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"No knife-specific vehicle rule found. Art. 50a covers any 'public place', which police say includes places needing a ticket such as a tram. Not otherwise verified.","transportAndZones":"No national ban on carrying knives on public transport or in city zones found. Art. 50a (intent) applies on trams, buses and in parks, shops or streets. Individual carriers' terms (e.g. ZTM) were not read. No municipal knife bans found; not searched exhaustively.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"Mass events (e.g. football matches, large concerts): it is forbidden to bring in or possess weapons or other dangerous objects (art. 8(2) of the mass events act); a violation is punishable by a fine, restriction of liberty, or prison of 3 months to 5 years (art. 59). Art. 50a § 1a covers members of organised travel groups to mass sports events who possess knives. Schools, offices and venues can set their own rules; school rules and any school-specific statute were not verified.","ageLimits":"No statutory age limit for owning or carrying a normal knife was found. Retail chains impose their own 18+ rules (reported by Fakt, Apr 2026, not read in full). Minors aged 17 and over are liable for misdemeanours (Kw art. 8).","buyingImporting":"Ordinary knives are not 'broń' under the weapons act, so no permit or registration for buying or ordering them online was found. Items in art. 4(1)(4) (hidden blades, brass knuckles, nunchaku, certain batons, crossbows) are regulated and need a permit. Import from outside the EU not checked.","penalties":"Kw art. 50a § 1: arrest, restriction of liberty, or a fine of at least 3,000 zł, with forfeiture of the item (§ 2); police cannot issue a fixed-penalty ticket (mandat) for it, per police guidance. Mass-event offence: up to 5 years' prison (art. 59). Penalties for unpermitted possession of hidden-blade 'broń' were not established (art. 51 of the weapons act covers selling; art. 263 of the Criminal Code was not checked).","recentChanges":"No change to Kw art. 50a since Nov 2015 and none to art. 4 of the weapons act since Mar 2011, per lexlege change history. Weapons act consolidated text Dz.U. 2024 poz. 485, listed as in force (Sejm API, last data change 2026-03-30).","pending":"In October 2026 two school knife attacks (Ostrołęka 7 Oct, Leszczydół-Nowiny 8 Oct) led to calls for tighter rules. On 26 Oct 2026 Rzeczpospolita reported experts divided and that the rules remained unchanged. Earlier proposals (2011 PiS 8 cm; 2025 interpellations for 6 cm or 12 cm) were not enacted. No bill was found; this could change quickly."},"goodReasonExamples":[],"officialLinks":[{"title":"Kodeks wykroczeń – tekst jednolity (Dz.U. 2025 poz. 734)","url":"https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2025/734/text.pdf"},{"title":"Ustawa o broni i amunicji – tekst jednolity (Dz.U. 2024 poz. 485)","url":"https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2024/485/text.pdf"},{"title":"Ustawa o bezpieczeństwie imprez masowych (lexlege.pb.pl)","url":"https://lexlege.pb.pl/ustawa-o-bezpieczenstwie-imprez-masowych"},{"title":"Policja ISP: Art. 50a Kw – posiadanie noża w miejscu publicznym","url":"https://isp.policja.pl/isp/aktualnosci/15866,Czy-wiesz-ze.html"},{"title":"Rzeczpospolita, 26.10.2026: Zakaz noszenia noży? Eksperci podzieleni","url":"https://www.rp.pl/prawo-karne/art45386031-zakaz-noszenia-nozy-w-miejscach-publicznych-po-fali-atakow-eksperci-podzieleni"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Whether possessing a hidden-blade item without a permit is punishable, and under which provision: art. 2 bans possession, but art. 51 of the weapons act covers only selling to unauthorised people. Not resolved. The rule for 'disguised' knives is low confidence.","ISAP (isap.sejm.gov.pl) blocked automated access; We used api.sejm.gov.pl PDFs and lexlege.pb.pl (a commercial site) for text. Check final wording on ISAP.","Public transport operators' regulations, school statutes and city-level rules were not read.","Whether the 2026 school attacks produce emergency legislation: unknown; re-check before publishing.","No age limit for knife purchases found; a retail-chain policy was reported in a news item we did not open.","No Polish court decisions on art. 50a were reviewed beyond a police commentary.","Verified 2026-10-27 on the Dz.U. 2024 poz. 485 text (Sejm API): art. 4(1)(4)(a) lists 'ostrzy ukrytych w przedmiotach niemających wyglądu broni' and art. 9(3) makes items under art. 4(1)(3) and (4) possessable only with a weapons permit. Switchblades and butterfly knives are not listed. Penalty for unpermitted possession is still not established."],"store":"pl"},{"id":"au-qld","name":"Queensland","country":"Australia","region":"oceania","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Physically possessing any knife in a public place or school is an offence (up to 18 months) unless you have a reasonable excuse such as work, sport, or using a pen/Swiss Army knife for ordinary utility; self-defence is not one. Flick, butterfly, push and similar knives are category M weapons. Police can scan anyone in any public place.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Weapons Act 1990 s.51 (current at 3 Aug 2026)","url":"https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/whole/pdf/inforce/current/act-1990-071","quote":"A person may carry a pen knife or swiss army knife for use for its normal utility purposes."},{"title":"QPS: the law and weapons","url":"https://www.police.qld.gov.au/weapon-licensing/law-and-weapons","quote":"Self-defence is not a reasonable excuse to physically possess a knife in a public place or a school."},{"title":"Weapons Categories Regulation 1997 s.7A (category M)","url":"https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/whole/pdf/inforce/current/sl-1997-wcr","quote":"a flick knife, or a similar device ... that has a blade folded or recessed into the handle that opens automatically"}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic","gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Flick (automatic, gravity or centrifugal), butterfly/balisong, sheath and ballistic knives are category M weapons, mostly prohibited in Queensland; also covers any knife designed so the blade can be released with one hand as a weapon.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/whole/pdf/inforce/current/sl-1997-wcr"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Category M para (b) catches a knife 'so designed or constructed ... to be used as a weapon' with the blade releasable by the holding hand; assisted openers are not named. Likely an ordinary knife needing a reasonable excuse, but untested.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/whole/pdf/inforce/current/sl-1997-wcr"},{"when":{"form":["scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Scissors: no specific restriction found; not a 'knife' under s.51 on its face.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/whole/pdf/inforce/current/act-1990-071"},{"when":{},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Any knife you physically possess in a public place (includes places visible from a public place) or school needs a reasonable excuse: lawful activity/employment, sport, exhibiting, or lawful purpose (e.g. pen knife or Swiss Army knife for normal utility). Self-defence is excluded.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/whole/pdf/inforce/current/act-1990-071"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"'Public place' includes a vehicle in a public place (s.50 definition). A knife kept in a car there is arguably covered; 'physically possess' wording may help but wasn't tested.","transportAndZones":"Jack's Law: police can wand people and bags in any public space or entertainment venue; permanent since 18 July 2025. Refusing is an offence (PPRA s.791).","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"Schools expressly covered; religious purposes are a reasonable excuse in public places but not in schools.","ageLimits":"Sale of controlled items to minors: Summary Offences Act 2005 s.19G (seen via Sentencing Council summary only).","buyingImporting":"Importing swords, daggers or knives into Queensland needs a QPS import confirmation; items must not be category M. Online orders of category M knives are not allowed.","penalties":"s.51: first offence 50 penalty units or 18 months; second or later 100 penalty units or 2 years (higher with circumstances of aggravation).","recentChanges":"s.51 penalty raised from 40 pu/1 year in 2024; Jack's Law expanded 30 Aug 2024 and made permanent 18 July 2025.","pending":"None identified."},"goodReasonExamples":["Carry a knife on belt for primary production work","Fisher carrying a knife while fishing","Scout uniform or pipe-band accessory","Preparing food at a restaurant or picnic","Pen knife or Swiss Army knife for normal utility use","Genuine religious purposes (e.g. kirpan) in a public place"],"officialLinks":[{"title":"QPS: the law and weapons","url":"https://www.police.qld.gov.au/weapon-licensing/law-and-weapons"},{"title":"QPS: Jack's Law wanding","url":"https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/news/2025/09/10/jacks-law-allows-police-to-wand-in-all-public-places"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Category M regulation text we read is 'current as at 1 Feb 2021' and may have been amended since.","s.51(1)–(2) definition of 'knife' not captured.","The Category M fact sheet PDF could not be parsed."],"store":"au"},{"id":"ie","name":"Republic of Ireland","country":"Ireland","region":"uk-ie","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Any knife or other blade or sharp-pointed article in a public place is an offence under s9 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990, with no 3-inch or folding-knife exemption. You must prove a good reason, lawful authority, work use or a recreational purpose. Flick knives need a reasonable excuse and cannot be sold or imported.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 s9 (revised, updated to 30 Sep 2024)","url":"https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/1990/act/12/revised/en/html","quote":"where a person has with him in any public place any knife or any other article which has a blade or which is sharply pointed, he shall be guilty of an offence."},{"title":"Same Act s9(2)-(3): defences","url":"https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/1990/act/12/revised/en/html","quote":"to prove that he had the article with him for use at work or for a recreational purpose."},{"title":"Same Act s9(4): flick-knife offence and onus","url":"https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/1990/act/12/revised/en/html","quote":"without lawful authority or reasonable excuse (the onus of proving which shall lie on him), has with him in any public place"},{"title":"Dáil answer 2 July 2025 (Minister for Justice): maximum penalty and 2024 changes","url":"https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-07-02/172/","quote":"the maximum penalty for possessing a knife in a public place, without good reason or lawful authority, of five years."}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["gravity-or-inertia","automatic"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Flick-knives (blade opens by button/spring/lever, or released by gravity/centrifugal force and locked open) and butterfly knives are on the Minister's s12 list: manufacture, sale, hire and import are offences. Carrying one in public is an offence unless you prove lawful authority or reasonable excuse.","sourceUrl":"https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/1990/act/12/revised/en/html"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"The flick-knife definition covers a blade that 'opens when hand pressure is applied to a button, spring, lever or other device'. A spring-assisted knife may fall inside; no Irish case or Garda guidance found.","sourceUrl":"https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/1990/act/12/revised/en/html"},{"when":{"form":["folder","fixed","multitool","keychain-tool","scissors-only"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"s9 has no folding-knife, length or lock exemption: any knife or article with a blade or sharp point carried in public is an offence unless you prove good reason, lawful authority, work use or a recreational purpose. Burden is on you.","sourceUrl":"https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/1990/act/12/revised/en/html"},{"when":{},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Anything with a blade or sharp point in a public place needs a proven good reason or other s9 defence.","sourceUrl":"https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/1990/act/12/revised/en/html"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"'Public place' includes any highway, anywhere the public may enter (paid or not), club premises, and any train, vessel or vehicle used for carrying people for reward (s9(8)), so buses, taxis and trains count. A private car's status and the meaning of 'has with him' were not covered by sources read.","transportAndZones":"s9(8) expressly includes trains, ships and public-hire vehicles. s10 separately makes it an offence to trespass with a knife or weapon. Airports: not checked for Irish airports.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"No separate school or event offence was read; school grounds open to the public would be public places and are typically governed by school rules. Work use is a statutory defence (s9(3)) but must be proved.","ageLimits":"Citizens Information: 'There is no set minimum age at which you can own a knife'; it is still an offence to have one in public without good reason. Sales to minors: no statutory age limit found in sources read.","buyingImporting":"No licence for ordinary knives found; We did not locate an Irish primary source on online purchase or import of ordinary knives. Import of listed weapons (flick-knives, knuckledusters, etc.) is prohibited (s12(6)); the list is in the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1991 (S.I. 66/1991) as amended in 2009.","penalties":"s9(1): on summary conviction a fine up to €5,000 and/or 12 months; on indictment a fine and/or up to 5 years (revised Act, updated to 30 Sep 2024, and 2025 Dáil answer). Possession with intent (s9(5)), trespass with a knife (s10) and producing a knife (s11) rose from 5 to 7 years, and s12 offences (manufacture, import, sale) from 7 to 10 years, from September 2024.","recentChanges":"23 Jul 2024: Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 raised several knife penalties; Part 9 commenced Sep 2024 (S.I. 478/2024). The simple-possession maximum in s9(1) stayed at 5 years.","pending":"The Minister said in 2025 that a Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill would include stop-and-search powers for suspected knife possession; its status in October 2026 was not checked. Any change after the 30 Sep 2024 revised-Act date was not checked against the statute book."},"goodReasonExamples":["Use at work (statutory defence s9(3))","Recreational purpose, e.g. fishing, camping or angling (statutory defence s9(3))","Good reason or lawful authority generally (s9(2)); no list in the Act, so the court decides each case"],"officialLinks":[{"title":"Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 (revised, Law Reform Commission)","url":"https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/1990/act/12/revised/en/html"},{"title":"Dáil answer 2 July 2025 on knife law and penalties","url":"https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-07-02/172/"},{"title":"Department of Justice press release on knife penalties","url":"https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/press-releases/ministers-mcentee-and-browne-amending-legislation-to-increase-penalties-for-knife-crime/"},{"title":"Citizens Information: children and rights (knives)","url":"https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/birth-family-relationships/children-s-rights-and-policy/children-and-rights-in-ireland/"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["The task named the 'Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1990 s9 and 1997'. The correct statute is the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 s9. The 2009 Act (s39) set the current penalty; We did not verify a 1997 amendment.","We did not check for changes to s9 after the 30 Sep 2024 revised version.","No Irish case law on 'good reason' (e.g. everyday pocketknife, Swiss Army knife, multitool) was found; those items are treated as inside s9 on the text.","Irish rules for online purchase or import of ordinary knives and for schools were not verified.","The 1991 Order was read; the 2009 amendment was not fully read."],"store":"uk"},{"id":"gb-sct","name":"Scotland","country":"United Kingdom","region":"uk-ie","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Scotland has its own law: s49 Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995. Carrying a blade or point in public is an offence unless you show a reasonable excuse or lawful authority. Non-locking folding pocketknives with an edge up to 3 inches are excluded. Locking folders, fixed blades and larger knives need an excuse. Flick, gravity and butterfly knives are banned.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 s49","url":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/39/section/49","quote":"This section does not apply to a folding pocketknife if the cutting edge of its blade does not exceed three inches (7.62 centimetres)."},{"title":"1995 Act s49A (school premises) and s49C (prisons)","url":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/39/section/49A","quote":"Any person who has an article to which section 49 of this Act applies with him on school premises shall be guilty of an offence."},{"title":"1995 Act s47 (offensive weapons; definition of public place)","url":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/39/section/47","quote":"“public place” means any place other than— (a) domestic premises, (b) school premises"},{"title":"Crime.Scot: s49 explainer (McAuley v Mulholland on locks)","url":"https://crime.scot/s49/","quote":"knives that have a functional locking mechanism do not count as folding pocketknives regardless of size"},{"title":"Scottish Government: prohibited items annex (zombie, flick, gravity knives)","url":"https://www.gov.scot/publications/surrender-compensation-scheme-scotland-certain-offensive-weapons-guidance-surrender-claiming-compensation/pages/9/","quote":"Section 44 of the 2019 Act amends the 1959 Act further to prohibit the possession of any knife under section 1 of that Act"}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Gravity/inertia knives and butterfly (balisong) knives are banned in Scotland: sale, import and possession (public or at home) are offences, with narrow museum-type defences.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.scot/publications/surrender-compensation-scheme-scotland-certain-offensive-weapons-guidance-surrender-claiming-compensation/pages/9/"},{"when":{"opening":["automatic"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Flick/automatic knives are banned: the 1959 Act covers blades opening automatically by a button, spring or other device in or attached to the knife. Possession has been an offence in Scotland since 27 March 2023.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/7-8/37/section/1"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Spring-assisted knives: UK Home Office guidance (written for England & Wales) says manually opened knives and partly-opening ones are not flick knives, but a spring that drives the blade fully open may be caught. No Scottish authority found.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-offensive-weapons-act-2019/statutory-guidance-offensive-weapons-act-2019-accessible-version"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"lock":["none"],"edge_mm_lte":76.2},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"A non-locking folding pocketknife with a cutting edge of 3 inches (7.62 cm) or less is excluded from s49. No specific restriction found for carrying it in public on foot; school and prison rules still apply, and any knife can still be an offensive weapon under s47 if intended for injury.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/39/section/49"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"lock":["none"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"A non-locking folder with an edge over 3 inches falls within s49. You must show a reasonable excuse or lawful authority.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/39/section/49"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"lock":["ring","other"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Ring locks (Opinel Virobloc) and unusual locks: no authority found. Crime.Scot says a working lock takes a knife out of the exemption but a broken/disabled lock may allow it back in if small enough; We did not read McAuley itself. Treat as needing an excuse.","sourceUrl":"https://crime.scot/s49/"},{"when":{"form":["folder"],"lock":["liner","frame","back","axis","compression","button"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Per McAuley v Mulholland 2003 SCCR 326 (as summarised by Crime.Scot), a functional locking mechanism takes the knife out of the folding-pocketknife exclusion at any size. You need a reasonable excuse.","sourceUrl":"https://crime.scot/s49/"},{"when":{"form":["multitool"],"lock":["none"],"edge_mm_lte":76.2},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"A multitool whose blade cannot lock and whose cutting edge is 3 inches or less fits the s49(3) wording (Swiss Army-type). No Scottish case on multitools found.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/39/section/49"},{"when":{"form":["multitool"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"A multitool with a locking blade, or a blade edge over 3 inches, is within s49. You need a reasonable excuse, e.g. use at work.","sourceUrl":"https://crime.scot/s49/"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"]},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Fixed blades are never within the folding-pocketknife exclusion. You must show a reasonable excuse or lawful authority (work, religion, national costume are listed defences).","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/39/section/49"},{"when":{"form":["keychain-tool","scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"s49 covers any article with a blade or point (Crime.Scot says even scissors); only folding pocketknives are excluded. Whether a keyring blade or small scissors qualify is untested in sources read; keyring knives disguised as a key are banned.","sourceUrl":"https://crime.scot/s49/"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Combination not covered above. Assume a reasonable excuse is needed.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/39/section/49"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"'Has with him' means readily available, not necessarily on your person: Smith v Vannet [1998 SCCR 410] upheld a conviction for a knife under a car floor mat while the accused stood 6 feet away (per Crime.Scot, secondary). Knowledge goes to the defence stage (Hill v HMA 2014), per Crime.Scot.","transportAndZones":"'Public place' means any place other than domestic premises (a private dwelling and its garden/garage), school premises or prisons, so shared stairs of flats count (s47(4)). Normand v Donnelly [1994]: carried through a public area to a private one still counts (Crime.Scot). Airports: UK hand-luggage rule bans knives with sharp/pointed blades or blades over 6 cm in hand luggage (gov.uk).","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"s49A: offence to have a s49 article or offensive weapon on school premises (defences: reasonable excuse/lawful authority, work, educational purposes, religion, national costume; the carrier must show them). s49C: offence to have an offensive weapon or any blade/point in a prison, no 3-inch exemption. Police may enter schools to search (s49B). We did not check colleges/universities.","ageLimits":"Selling or letting on hire a knife to under-18s is an offence (s141A), but a Scottish rule lets sellers supply cutlery and kitchen knives to 16-17-year-olds (gov.uk). Folding knives of 3 inches or less are exempt from the sale restriction (Exemption Order 1996, UK-wide). No separate minimum age to carry found.","buyingImporting":"Online sales to Scotland: since 1 Jan 2021 s141C sets minimum seller conditions (age-check system, parcel marked for 18+ delivery, no lockers). OWA 2019 s38 (delivery of bladed products to residential premises or lockers is an offence unless a defence applies) has been in force in Scotland since 28 Jun 2022. Banned weapons cannot be imported (gov.uk). Ordinary knife imports: see England & Wales note.","penalties":"s49: up to 12 months and/or a fine up to the statutory maximum on summary conviction; up to 5 years and/or fine on indictment. s47 (offensive weapons) similar (6 months summary, 5 years indictment).","recentChanges":"13 Dec 2010: defence changed to 'reasonable excuse' and burden wording to 'show'. 23 Jun 2022: zombie knives added to Scottish prohibited list (SSI 2022/218). 28 Jun 2022: cyclone/spiral knives added; OWA 2019 delivery rules in force. 27 Mar 2023: possession of flick/gravity knives and listed weapons banned in private (SSI 2023/72). 29 Apr 2026: Crime and Policing Act 2026 passed.","pending":"Crime and Policing Act 2026, Scottish parts not yet in force on the sources checked: higher maxima (s29), photo-ID online-sale rules (s33, commencement by Scottish Ministers) and delivery changes (s35), bulk-sale reporting (s42). England & Wales 'zombie-style knife' (2024) and ninja sword (2025) bans are England & Wales orders; We found no Scottish equivalent."},"goodReasonExamples":["Use at work (e.g. tradesperson or chef transporting or using a knife)","Religious reasons (kirpan)","National costume (sgian-dubh)","Frame v Kennedy [2008] HCJAC 25 accepted fancy-dress purpose as a reasonable excuse for batons (Crime.Scot summary): courts look at the circumstances"],"officialLinks":[{"title":"Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 - offensive weapons","url":"https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/39/section/49"},{"title":"Scottish Government - prohibited items summary","url":"https://www.gov.scot/publications/surrender-compensation-scheme-scotland-certain-offensive-weapons-guidance-surrender-claiming-compensation/pages/9/"},{"title":"GOV.UK: Selling, buying and carrying knives and weapons","url":"https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["McAuley v Mulholland was not read directly; the lock rule and the 'broken lock' point come from Crime.Scot (an advocate's website, secondary).","The burden of proof on the balance of probabilities for s49(4) is from Crime.Scot; statute says the accused must 'show'.","Whether ring locks, detent/friction locks or deliberately disabled locks count is not settled in any source read.","No Scottish equivalent of the 2024 zombie-style knife or 2025 ninja sword bans found; not verified either way.","Spring-assisted knives: no Scottish authority."],"store":"uk"},{"id":"sk","name":"Slovakia","country":"Slovakia","region":"europe","lastVerified":"2026-10-27","summary":"The Slovak firearms act (190/2003) covers firearms only. Carrying 'cold weapons' such as daggers in public places is a priestupok under the Misdemeanours Act § 47(1)(h) (fine up to €1,500), but the law does not say which knives count, and no official guidance or case law was found. Treat as unclear.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Zákon č. 372/1990 Zb. o priestupkoch, § 47 ods. 1 písm. h) (version effective 1 Sep 2026)","url":"https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/1990/372/20260901.html","quote":"nosí na miestach prístupných verejnosti chladné zbrane, najmä dýky, bodáky a šable"},{"title":"Zákon č. 372/1990 Zb., § 47 ods. 2 (fine range)","url":"https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/1990/372/20260901.html","quote":"za priestupok podľa odseku 1 písm. h) až m) pokutu do 1 500 eur"},{"title":"Zákon č. 190/2003 Z. z. o strelných zbraniach a strelive, § 1 ods. 1 (scope: firearms)","url":"https://www.zakonypreludi.sk/zz/2003-190","quote":"Tento zákon ustanovuje druhy a kategórie strelných zbraní"},{"title":"Zákon č. 190/2003 Z. z., Čl. IV (text of the amendment adding § 47(1)(h) to the Misdemeanours Act)","url":"https://www.zakonypreludi.sk/zz/2003-190","quote":"ako aj iné predmety, ktorými možno ublížiť na zdraví, ak možno z okolností prípadu alebo správania sa osoby usudzovať"}],"rules":[{"when":{"form":["scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Scissors are not a typical 'cold weapon'. The second limb of § 47(1)(h) covers other injurious objects only where circumstances or behaviour suggest intended violence. No specific restriction found.","sourceUrl":"https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/1990/372/20260901.html"},{"when":{"opening":["automatic","gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Switchblades and butterfly knives are not named in the firearms act. Whether they are 'chladné zbrane' under § 47(1)(h) is not defined in the statute, and no official or court interpretation was found. Higher risk than a plain folder.","sourceUrl":"https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/1990/372/20260901.html"},{"when":{"double_edged":true},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Daggers are named in § 47(1)(h) as examples of cold weapons. A double-edged blade is the closest match, so carrying one in public is at real risk of being treated as an offence. No interpretation found.","sourceUrl":"https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/1990/372/20260901.html"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"A fixed-blade knife may be argued to be a cold weapon. The statute names daggers and bayonets but sets no blade length. The exceptions (hunting, fishing, sport, job) may apply but depend on the situation.","sourceUrl":"https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/1990/372/20260901.html"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool","keychain-tool"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"The statute does not say whether ordinary pocket knives are 'cold weapons'. Readings differ and no authoritative interpretation or case law was found. The exceptions (sport, hunting, fishing, work) may help but are untested.","sourceUrl":"https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/1990/372/20260901.html"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Catch-all: § 47(1)(h) is open-textured and no official interpretation was found. Treat any bladed item as uncertain.","sourceUrl":"https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/1990/372/20260901.html"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"Not verified. The firearms act's rules on carrying and transport apply to firearms, not knives.","transportAndZones":"Not verified. No national transport ban on knives was found; carriers' own terms not read.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"Not verified. Exceptions in § 47(1)(h) cover carrying for sport, hunting, fishing, profession or employment. Schools, venues and employers may set their own rules.","ageLimits":"No age limit for knives found in the laws read. The firearms act's age rules concern firearms and listed accessories.","buyingImporting":"The firearms act does not regulate knives, so no licence or registration appears to apply to buying a knife. Import rules were not checked.","penalties":"Priestupok under § 47(1)(h): fine up to €1,500 (§ 47(2), version effective 1 Sep 2026). Police, municipalities and municipal police may handle § 47(1)(a)-(m) offences, including by on-the-spot fine (blokové konanie) per the 2026 text. Using a knife to threaten or injure is a separate criminal matter (not researched).","recentChanges":"§ 47(1)(h) has been in the Misdemeanours Act since 1 Jan 2004 (added by Act 190/2003 art. IV). Act 129/2026 Z. z. amends the Misdemeanours Act; the version effective 1 Sep 2026 still contains the same § 47(1)(h) text. What else 129/2026 changed was not read.","pending":"A bill amending the Police Corps Act (171/1993) was submitted in Aug 2026, per the Interior Ministry site; it was not checked for knife provisions. No Slovak bill on knives was found."},"goodReasonExamples":[],"officialLinks":[{"title":"Zákon č. 372/1990 Zb. o priestupkoch (Slov-Lex, version effective 1 Sep 2026)","url":"https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/1990/372/20260901.html"},{"title":"Zákon č. 372/1990 Zb. o priestupkoch (Slov-Lex, current)","url":"https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/1990/372/"},{"title":"Zákon č. 190/2003 Z. z. o strelných zbraniach a strelive (consolidated text, zakonypreludi.sk)","url":"https://www.zakonypreludi.sk/zz/2003-190"}],"confidence":"low","openQuestions":["Which knives are 'chladné zbrane' under § 47(1)(h)? The statute has no definition and we found no official (Policajný zbor, Ministerstvo vnútra) statement or court decision. Secondary sources disagree (one retailer blog reads it as permitting visible carry unless violence is indicated; another site claims blade-length or opening rules that have no statutory basis).","Whether the 'ako aj iné predmety ...' clause modifies the whole sentence (so intent is needed for any item) or only the objects after the comma.","Municipal ordinances (VZN) on weapons or knives; the Act makes breach of duties set by municipal ordinances a public-order priestupok, but no ordinance was searched.","Public transport, schools, and age limits not verified.","Content of Act 129/2026 beyond § 47(1)(h) not read.","Wording of § 47(1)(h) verified on 2026-10-27 from the Slov-Lex version effective 1 Sep 2026: 'nosí na miestach prístupných verejnosti chladné zbrane, najmä dýky, bodáky a šable' (exceptions: uniform, folk costume, sport, hunting, fishing, profession or employment), 'ako aj iné predmety, ktorými možno ublížiť na zdraví, ak možno z okolností ... usudzovať, že sa majú použiť na násilie'. Fine up to €1,500 (§ 47(3)). The intent test is attached to 'other objects'; whether a pocket knife is a 'chladná zbraň' is still undefined."],"store":"de"},{"id":"au-sa","name":"South Australia","country":"Australia","region":"oceania","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Possessing any knife in a public place, school or place of worship without lawful excuse is an offence (up to 6 months). Butterfly, flick, push, trench knives, daggers, swords and machetes are prohibited weapons. Self-defence is no excuse for carrying an offensive weapon. Knives cannot be sold to under 18s.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Summary Offences Act 1953 s.21E (version 19.2.2026 to 30.6.2026)","url":"https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/_legislation-documents/lz/c/a/summary-offences-act-1953/2026.06.30/1953.55.auth.pdf","quote":"A person who, without lawful excuse, has possession of a knife in an education facility, place of worship or public place is guilty of an offence."},{"title":"Summary Offences Act 1953 s.21C","url":"https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/_legislation-documents/lz/c/a/summary-offences-act-1953/2026.06.30/1953.55.auth.pdf","quote":"A person who, without lawful excuse ... carries an offensive weapon or an article of disguise ... is guilty of an offence."},{"title":"SA AGD: knife crime laws","url":"https://www.agd.sa.gov.au/law-and-justice/legislation/knife-crime-laws","quote":"prohibited weapons: ... machetes and swords, as well as, ballistic knives, butterfly knives, daggers, dirk or sgian dhu, fighting knives, flick knives"},{"title":"Law Handbook SA: weapons","url":"https://www.lawhandbook.sa.gov.au/ch12s06s05s01.php","quote":"Carrying an offensive weapon for self-defence is not a lawful excuse."}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic","gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Flick knives and butterfly knives are prescribed prohibited weapons: possessing one is an offence (up to $20,000 or 2 years) unless an exemption applies. The religious exemption excludes butterfly, flick, push and trench knives.","sourceUrl":"https://www.agd.sa.gov.au/law-and-justice/legislation/knife-crime-laws"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"The regulation defining 'flick knife' was not read; whether spring-assisted knives are caught is unknown. If not, they are ordinary knives needing a lawful excuse.","sourceUrl":"https://www.agd.sa.gov.au/law-and-justice/legislation/knife-crime-laws"},{"when":{"double_edged":[true],"form":["fixed"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Daggers, fighting knives, throwing, push and trench knives, and knife belts are prohibited weapons. Exact dagger definition in the Regulations not verified; a double-edged fixed blade may be caught.","sourceUrl":"https://www.agd.sa.gov.au/law-and-justice/legislation/knife-crime-laws"},{"when":{"form":["scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Scissors: no specific restriction found in the sources read.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/_legislation-documents/lz/c/a/summary-offences-act-1953/2026.06.30/1953.55.auth.pdf"},{"when":{},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Any other knife in a public place, education facility or place of worship needs a lawful excuse (s.21E; 6 months, or 12 months for repeat). A visibly carried offensive weapon that scares someone is a separate 2-year offence.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/_legislation-documents/lz/c/a/summary-offences-act-1953/2026.06.30/1953.55.auth.pdf"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"No vehicle-specific rule found. Carrying an offensive weapon at night in licensed premises or its car park is a 2-year offence (s.21C(3)).","transportAndZones":"Metal-detector search powers apply at declared shopping precincts, public transport hubs and vehicles, places of worship, all licensed premises, and public places for up to 6 hours where violence is feared.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"Education facilities (childcare to university and TAFE) and places of worship are covered since 1 July 2025.","ageLimits":"Selling a knife to a minor (under 18) is an offence ($20,000 or 2 years) since 1 July 2025.","buyingImporting":"Prohibited weapons may be bought only by exempt persons. From 1 July 2026 retailers must lock up or tether sharp knives and display age-notice signs; online sellers must publish the age warning. Federal import controls apply.","penalties":"s.21E first offence $2,500 or 6 months; subsequent $5,000 or 12 months. s.21C(1) $2,500/6 months. s.21F $20,000/2 years.","recentChanges":"1 July 2025: sale ban under 18, swords and machetes prohibited, public place and education facility coverage. 1 July 2026: phase 3 retail rules.","pending":"Retail rules for fishing stores exempt for 2 years from 1 July 2026."},"goodReasonExamples":["Lawful excuse is not defined in the Act read; the Regulations (s.21O) can prescribe circumstances, not read."],"officialLinks":[{"title":"SAPOL: changes to knife laws","url":"https://www.police.sa.gov.au/services-and-events/firearms-and-weapons/changes-to-knife-laws"},{"title":"AGD knife crime laws","url":"https://www.agd.sa.gov.au/law-and-justice/legislation/knife-crime-laws"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Summary Offences Regulations 2016 (prohibited weapon definitions, lawful-excuse circumstances) were not read directly.","Whether self-defence is expressly excluded for s.21E (as opposed to s.21C) was not confirmed in the Act text.","The statute version read ended 30.6.2026; any 1 July 2026 amendments (phase 3) were only read via AGD summary."],"store":"au"},{"id":"es","name":"Spain","country":"Spain","region":"europe","lastVerified":"2026-10-27","summary":"Spain bans automatic knives, daggers (double-edged, under 11 cm) and non-automatic folders with a blade over 11 cm. Other knives are weapons you may not carry outside home or work without need; police judge that need. A reform of the weapons regulation is being fast-tracked, but its knife content is not published.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Reglamento de Armas (RD 137/1993) art. 4.1 f) (prohibited weapons)","url":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1993-6202&tn=1&p=20250404#a4","quote":"Los bastones-estoque, los puñales de cualquier clase y las navajas llamadas automáticas."},{"title":"Reglamento de Armas, definition of puñal","url":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1993-6202&tn=1&p=20250404#a4","quote":"Se considerarán puñales a estos efectos las armas blancas de hoja menor de 11 centímetros, de dos filos y puntiaguda."},{"title":"Reglamento de Armas art. 5, ban on non-automatic navajas over 11 cm","url":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1993-6202&tn=1&p=20250404#a4","quote":"se prohíbe la comercialización, publicidad, compraventa, tenencia y uso de las navajas no automáticas cuya hoja exceda de 11 centímetros"},{"title":"Reglamento de Armas art. 146.1 (carrying outside home)","url":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1993-6202&tn=1&p=20250404#a4","quote":"Queda prohibido portar, exhibir y usar fuera del domicilio ... armas blancas, especialmente aquellas que tengan hoja puntiaguda"},{"title":"Reglamento de Armas art. 146.1, second paragraph (necessity judged by authorities)","url":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1993-6202&tn=1&p=20250404#a4","quote":"Queda al prudente criterio de las autoridades y sus agentes apreciar si el portador de las armas tiene o no necesidad de llevarlas"},{"title":"Ley Orgánica 4/2015 art. 36.10 (serious infraction) and art. 39 (fines €601-30,000)","url":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2015-3442","quote":"Portar, exhibir o usar armas prohibidas ... siempre que dichas conductas no constituyan infracción penal."},{"title":"Código Penal art. 563","url":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1995-25444","quote":"La tenencia de armas prohibidas ... será castigada con la pena de prisión de uno a tres años."},{"title":"Ministerio del Interior: Armas prohibidas","url":"https://www.interior.gob.es/opencms/es/servicios-al-ciudadano/tramites-y-gestiones/seguridad/armas-y-explosivos/armas-prohibidas/","quote":"navajas no automáticas cuya hoja exceda de 11 cm., medidos desde el reborde o tope del mango hasta el extremo."}],"rules":[{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool"],"opening":["automatic"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Automatic knives ('navajas automáticas') are prohibited weapons: manufacture, import, sale, possession and use are banned. Possession can be a crime (CP art. 563); carrying is at least a serious administrative offence.","sourceUrl":"https://www.interior.gob.es/opencms/es/servicios-al-ciudadano/tramites-y-gestiones/seguridad/armas-y-explosivos/armas-prohibidas/"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool"],"opening":["assisted","gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Spring-assisted, flick and butterfly knives are not named in the Reglamento. Whether they count as 'automáticas' or 'puñales' is not settled in sources read; some lawyers say prohibited. Treat as high risk.","sourceUrl":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1993-6202&tn=1&p=20250404#a4"},{"when":{"double_edged":true,"blade_mm_lte":110},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Pointed double-edged blades under 11 cm count as 'puñales' and are prohibited weapons. 'Puñales de cualquier clase' are also listed, so longer daggers are also at risk.","sourceUrl":"https://www.interior.gob.es/opencms/es/servicios-al-ciudadano/tramites-y-gestiones/seguridad/armas-y-explosivos/armas-prohibidas/"},{"when":{"double_edged":true,"blade_mm_gte":110.1},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"The Reglamento bans 'puñales de cualquier clase' but defines puñal only for blades under 11 cm. Longer double-edged blades (daggers) are very likely treated as prohibited; no clear text or case found.","sourceUrl":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1993-6202&tn=1&p=20250404#a4"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool"],"blade_mm_gte":110.1,"opening":["two-hand","one-hand-manual"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Non-automatic folding knives (navajas) with a blade over 11 cm, measured from the handle stop to the tip, are prohibited to sell, own and use, except at home as decoration or for collections.","sourceUrl":"https://www.interior.gob.es/opencms/es/servicios-al-ciudadano/tramites-y-gestiones/seguridad/armas-y-explosivos/armas-prohibidas/"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool"],"blade_mm_lte":110,"opening":["two-hand","one-hand-manual"],"double_edged":false},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Not a prohibited weapon, but it is a category 5 'arma blanca': carrying outside home, work or sport is banned unless you have a need that police accept. Pointed blades are singled out. Local fines are likely without a clear purpose.","sourceUrl":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1993-6202&tn=1&p=20250404#a4"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"],"double_edged":false},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Fixed-blade knives are not 'navajas', so the 11 cm navaja ban does not apply, but art. 146 still bars carrying them outside home, work or sport unless there is a real need that agents accept.","sourceUrl":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1993-6202&tn=1&p=20250404#a4"},{"when":{"form":["scissors-only","keychain-tool"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Not addressed specifically. Anything with a cutting or piercing blade is an 'arma blanca' under art. 2; tiny non-pointed tools are rarely enforced against but no official statement was found.","sourceUrl":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1993-6202&tn=1&p=20250404#a4"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Catch-all: combination not covered. Automatic knives, daggers and non-automatic folders over 11 cm are prohibited; everything else requires a need to carry under art. 146.","sourceUrl":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1993-6202&tn=1&p=20250404#a4"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"No specific vehicle rule found. Art. 146 applies to carrying outside home, work or sport; police can check people and vehicles to stop illegal carrying (LO 4/2015 art. 18, Reglamento art. 148). Whether a knife stowed in a car trunk counts as carrying was not verified.","transportAndZones":"Art. 146.2 says it should generally be considered unlawful for people attending public establishments and places of gathering, recreation or entertainment to carry or use weapons. Armed attendance at public assemblies is reported to the court (art. 148.3). Regional and local rules (e.g. Basque Country, Catalonia) were not checked.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"Not verified beyond art. 146.2 (public venues and gatherings).","ageLimits":"No minimum age for carrying found; the Reglamento's age rules for buying weapons were not checked.","buyingImporting":"Selling, advertising and possession of prohibited knives are banned, including imports. Non-automatic navajas over 11 cm may only be kept at home as ornament/collection. Online purchase and import of ordinary knives by tourists were not verified.","penalties":"Prohibited weapons: possession can be a crime, prison 1-3 years (CP art. 563); administrative carrying of prohibited weapons is a serious infraction with a fine of €601-30,000 (LO 4/2015 arts. 36.10, 39). For non-prohibited blades carried against art. 146, Reglamento art. 156 j) still lists a fine of €300.51 to €601.01 plus seizure; how that old schedule sits beside LO 4/2015 was not resolved. Weapons are seized.","recentChanges":"No change to the Reglamento's knife rules found in force. Last consolidated Reglamento update shown by BOE: 4 Apr 2025. A PP motion calling for more banned knife types was reported approved by Congress (BOCG 30 Apr 2026, only seen in a search excerpt). The Interior Minister promised in April 2026 to push measures on knives in public spaces, and Interior and the Basque government agreed on 8 Jul 2026 to promote a Reglamento change.","pending":"13 Oct 2026: the Council of Ministers authorised urgent processing of a royal decree amending the Reglamento de Armas (La Moncloa reference list, primary). The published agenda gives no content. Industry sources describe a broad reform (licences, EU directive), and Basque officials want a ban on carrying knives in crowded places; whether this decree contains any knife rule is NOT confirmed. Expect a draft within 1 to 3 months."},"goodReasonExamples":["Art. 146 gives no list; agents judge 'necesidad' by occasion, time and circumstance. Plausible examples (not official): hunting, fishing or camping trip, work or trade use. Not verified by a source."],"officialLinks":[{"title":"Reglamento de Armas (BOE consolidated)","url":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1993-6202"},{"title":"Interior: Armas prohibidas","url":"https://www.interior.gob.es/opencms/es/servicios-al-ciudadano/tramites-y-gestiones/seguridad/armas-y-explosivos/armas-prohibidas/"},{"title":"Ley Orgánica 4/2015 (Seguridad Ciudadana)","url":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2015-3442"},{"title":"Código Penal art. 563","url":"https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1995-25444"},{"title":"Interior press release, 8 Jul 2026 (Basque Security Board)","url":"https://www.interior.gob.es/opencms/es/detalle/articulo/Interior-y-el-Gobierno-vasco-promoveran-cambios-normativos-para-reforzar-el-control-de-armas-blancas-en-espacios-publicos"},{"title":"Secondary: AR Formación on Council of Ministers 13 Oct 2026","url":"https://www.arformacion.com/noticias/proxima-modificacion-reglamento-de-armas/"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Are butterfly (balisong), spring-assisted and flick knives 'navajas automáticas'? No authoritative ruling found.","Which sanction applies to merely carrying a non-prohibited knife without need: Reglamento art. 157 (up to €300.51) or LO 4/2015? Not resolved.","Case law on multitools, Swiss Army knives and Albacete-style navajas under art. 146 was not retrieved.","Autonomous community rules and airport/transport rules were not checked.","Content of the royal decree authorised for urgent processing on 13 Oct 2026: the Moncloa list gives only its title; no draft text was found.","Numbering resolved on 2026-10-27: the 11 cm navaja ban is Reglamento art. 5 (first paragraph), read directly on the BOE consolidated text."],"store":"es"},{"id":"ch","name":"Switzerland","country":"Switzerland","region":"europe","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Swiss Army-type and comparable pocket knives are not treated as dangerous objects. Switchblades and spring-assisted knives (over 5 cm blade, over 12 cm open), butterfly knives, throwing knives and symmetric daggers are 'weapons': banned to buy or import, and carrying needs a permit. Other knives may not be carried if you cannot justify it and seem to intend misuse.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Waffengesetz (WG, SR 514.54) Art. 4 Abs. 1 lit. c, Abs. 6: knives that are weapons; pocket knives are not 'dangerous objects'","url":"https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/1998/2535_2535_2535/de","quote":"Taschenmesser, wie etwa das Schweizer Armeetaschenmesser und vergleichbare Produkte, gelten nicht als gefährliche Gegenstände."},{"title":"WG Art. 5 Abs. 2 lit. a: banned to transfer, acquire or bring into Switzerland","url":"https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/1998/2535_2535_2535/de","quote":"Verboten sind ... von: a. Messern und Dolchen nach Artikel 4 Absatz 1 Buchstabe c"},{"title":"WG Art. 27 Abs. 1: permit to carry a weapon in public","url":"https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/1998/2535_2535_2535/de","quote":"Wer eine Waffe an öffentlich zugänglichen Orten tragen oder sie transportieren will, benötigt eine Waffentragbewilligung."},{"title":"WG Art. 28a: misuse carrying of dangerous objects","url":"https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/1998/2535_2535_2535/de","quote":"Das Tragen gefährlicher Gegenstände an öffentlich zugänglichen Orten und das Mitführen solcher Gegenstände in Fahrzeugen ist verboten, wenn"},{"title":"WG Art. 31 (seizure) and Art. 33 Abs. 1 lit. a (penalty)","url":"https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/1998/2535_2535_2535/de","quote":"Die zuständige Behörde beschlagnahmt: ... gefährliche Gegenstände, die missbräuchlich getragen werden"},{"title":"Waffenverordnung (WV, SR 514.541) Art. 7 (definition of knife weapons), Art. 9 (Swiss Army knife), Art. 13a (bans)","url":"https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/767/de","quote":"geöffnet insgesamt mehr als 12 cm lang sind; und ... eine Klinge haben, die mehr als 5 cm lang ist."},{"title":"fedpol Entscheidungshilfe Messer (1 Oct 2021): worked examples (spring-assisted counts; Fallmesser not a weapon)","url":"https://www.fedpol.admin.ch/dam/de/sd-web/s6NWBuitlT0K/entscheidungshilfe-messer.pdf","quote":"Fallmesser gelten nicht als Waffen im Sinne von Art. 4 Abs.1 Bst. c Waffengesetz"}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic"],"blade_mm_gte":50},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Switchblade/OTF with blade over 5 cm and open length over 12 cm is a weapon: acquiring/importing is banned (exemptions only by canton) and carrying needs a weapons carry permit, granted only for real danger or security work.","sourceUrl":"https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/767/de"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"],"blade_mm_gte":50},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"fedpol treats spring-assisted openers as automatic (citing BGer 6B_660/2018) when blade is over 5 cm and open length over 12 cm: same ban on acquiring/importing and permit-to-carry as switchblades. Check the open length yourself.","sourceUrl":"https://www.fedpol.admin.ch/dam/de/sd-web/s6NWBuitlT0K/entscheidungshilfe-messer.pdf"},{"when":{"opening":["automatic","assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Blade of 5 cm or less (or open length 12 cm or less) is not a weapon by definition, but it is still a dangerous object if carried abusively; fedpol shows such mini knives as 'not a weapon'.","sourceUrl":"https://www.fedpol.admin.ch/dam/de/sd-web/s6NWBuitlT0K/entscheidungshilfe-messer.pdf"},{"when":{"opening":["gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Butterfly knives (blade over 5 cm, open over 12 cm) are weapons: banned to acquire/import, carry needs a permit. fedpol says Fallmesser (gravity/flick release) are NOT weapons, only dangerous objects. This category mixes both; check which you have.","sourceUrl":"https://www.fedpol.admin.ch/dam/de/sd-web/s6NWBuitlT0K/entscheidungshilfe-messer.pdf"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"],"double_edged":true,"blade_mm_gte":50,"blade_mm_lte":299},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Fixed, pointed, symmetrical blade over 5 cm and under 30 cm is a 'Dolch': a weapon, banned to acquire or import, and a carry permit is needed. Double-edged blades are symmetrical; some single-edged shapes count too per fedpol.","sourceUrl":"https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/767/de"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Not a 'weapon' if asymmetrical, 5 cm or less, or 30 cm or more. But the pocket-knife exemption does not cover it, so Art. 28a applies: carrying without a plausible use while seeming to intend misuse is banned; seizure possible.","sourceUrl":"https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/1998/2535_2535_2535/de"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool","keychain-tool"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Manual folders and multitools are 'Taschenmesser' (Swiss Army knife and comparable products), expressly not dangerous objects. Misuse (threatening) is still an offence. Whether tactical locking folders count as 'comparable' is not defined in law.","sourceUrl":"https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/1998/2535_2535_2535/de"},{"when":{"form":["scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Scissors are not named in the knife-weapon definitions. At most a 'dangerous object' under the misuse rule (Art. 28a).","sourceUrl":"https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/1998/2535_2535_2535/de"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Combination not covered by the verified rules; see WV Art. 7 and the fedpol Entscheidungshilfe.","sourceUrl":"https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/767/de"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"Art. 28a also covers carrying dangerous objects in vehicles. For weapons, Kanton Zürich says carrying one in a vehicle or rucksack counts as 'Waffentragen'. Art. 28 Abs. 1 lists transport cases where no permit is needed (e.g. to/from a weapons dealer, a club event, or when moving house).","transportAndZones":"No federal rule found on knives in public transport, stations or zones. Cantonal police laws and SBB/transit house rules were not researched.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"No federal rule found beyond Art. 27/28a. Cantonal and school rules, and event rules, not researched.","ageLimits":"Weapon acquisition permit (Waffenerwerbsschein) is refused under 18 (Art. 8 Abs. 2 lit. a). For ordinary knives that are not weapons, we found no federal age limit; retailers may set their own.","buyingImporting":"Weapon-class knives (see rules) may not be acquired or brought into Switzerland without a cantonal exemption; Kanton Zürich warns that ordering such knives abroad online is illegal and punishable. Import of other knives is not restricted by the weapons law provisions we read (Art. 23 declaration applies to weapons). Possession is not listed in Art. 5 Abs. 2, but carrying or possessing a weapon 'without authorisation' is an offence under Art. 33 Abs. 1 lit. a; how this applies to already-owned knives was not verified.","penalties":"Carrying, acquiring or importing a weapon (including weapon-class knives) without authorisation: up to 3 years' imprisonment or a fine (Art. 33 Abs. 1 lit. a; negligence: fine). Misuse carrying of a dangerous object (Art. 28a): the Act provides seizure and confiscation (Art. 31); We found no fine listed for Art. 28a in the Act itself.","recentChanges":"WV Art. 13a (bans on acquiring/importing spring, gas or elastic-released knives, butterfly, throwing knives, daggers) in force since 15 Aug 2019. BGer 6B_660/2018 (18 Jan 2019) cited by fedpol on spring-assisted knives. WV Art. 7 last amended 1 Jul 2016. fedpol's banned-weapons page published 6 Nov 2025 lists the same knife categories.","pending":"A June 2026 consultation on changes to the Waffenverordnung covers firearm parts and imitation weapons; We saw no knife changes in the explanatory report summary. Kanton Zürich's revised Polizeigesetz takes effect 1 Dec 2026 (content on knives not checked)."},"goodReasonExamples":["Art. 28a: carrying justified by 'bestimmungsgemässe Verwendung oder Wartung' (intended use or maintenance), e.g. tools on the way to work or a hunting/fishing knife on the way to use","No intimidating impression: carrying is banned only if BOTH no justification AND an impression of misuse (Art. 28a lit. a and b)"],"officialLinks":[{"title":"Waffengesetz (WG) SR 514.54 - Fedlex","url":"https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/1998/2535_2535_2535/de"},{"title":"Waffenverordnung (WV) SR 514.541 - Fedlex","url":"https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/767/de"},{"title":"fedpol Entscheidungshilfe Messer (2021)","url":"https://www.fedpol.admin.ch/dam/de/sd-web/s6NWBuitlT0K/entscheidungshilfe-messer.pdf"},{"title":"fedpol: Carrying a weapon","url":"https://www.fedpol.admin.ch/en/prohibited-weapons-and-weapon-accessories"},{"title":"Kanton Zürich: Umgang mit Waffen","url":"https://www.zh.ch/de/sicherheit-justiz/delikte-praevention/waffen.html"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Fedlex WG page showed 'Stand am 1. September 2023' as the latest consolidated text we could read; WV Stand 1 Oct 2026. We did not compare against the Amtliche Sammlung for later amendments to the WG.","The fedpol Entscheidungshilfe is dated 1 Oct 2021; fedpol's current version may differ, and we did not verify that it is still current in all details (e.g. Fallmesser status).","Whether tactical locking folders count as 'comparable' to a Swiss Army knife (Art. 4 Abs. 6) is not defined; no case law found.","Cantonal differences (police laws, permit practice, local knife bans) not researched; only Zürich's weapons page was read.","Public transport/SBB, school and event rules not checked.","Total open length vs blade length: the 12 cm threshold is on total open length; the dataset has only blade_mm, so the rule uses blade length over 5 cm as the proxy and the reader must also check open length."],"store":"de"},{"id":"us-tx","name":"Texas","country":"United States","region":"north-america","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Adults face no statewide ban on carrying knives, open or concealed, including switchblades, assisted openers, balisongs, daggers and fixed blades. A blade over 5.5 inches is a 'location-restricted knife', barred from listed places such as schools, hospitals and secured airport areas. Under-18s face limits on those long knives. Cities cannot add knife rules.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Tex. Penal Code §46.01 definitions","url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.46.htm","quote":"\"Location-restricted knife\" means a knife with a blade over five and one-half inches."},{"title":"Tex. Penal Code §46.02(a-4) minors","url":"https://texas.public.law/statutes/tex._penal_code_section_46.02","quote":"is younger than 18 years of age at the time of the offense"},{"title":"Tex. Local Gov't Code §229.001 preemption","url":"https://texas.public.law/statutes/tex._local_gov't_code_section_229.001","quote":"a municipality may not adopt or enforce regulations that relate to ... possession, wearing, carrying ... of ... knives"}],"rules":[{"when":{"blade_mm_gte":139.71},"verdict":"restricted","reason":"Blade over 5.5 in (139.7 mm) is a location-restricted knife: no general carry ban for adults, but prohibited in listed places (schools, hospitals, secured airport areas, courts, sporting events). Under-18s have extra limits.","sourceUrl":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.46.htm"},{"when":{"opening":["automatic","assisted","gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No specific restriction found on switchblades, assisted openers or balisongs of 5.5 in or less; none is listed as a prohibited weapon in section 46.05.","sourceUrl":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.46.htm"},{"when":{"double_edged":true},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No specific restriction found on double-edged or dagger-type blades of 5.5 in or less; the old 'illegal knife' list no longer exists in the Penal Code.","sourceUrl":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.46.htm"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No specific restriction found on open or concealed carry of fixed blades 5.5 in or shorter. Premises owners may still exclude you.","sourceUrl":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.46.htm"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Catch-all: no specific statewide restriction found for folders, multitools, keychain tools or scissors with blades 5.5 in or shorter.","sourceUrl":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.46.htm"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"No knife rule for vehicles found. The under-18 offence excludes carrying in or directly en route to a vehicle the person owns or controls.","transportAndZones":"Secured airport areas bar location-restricted knives (46.03(a)(5)). TSA rules apply separately. Transit agency conduct rules not checked.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"46.03 bars location-restricted knives at schools and colleges (third-degree felony), hospitals, nursing facilities, correctional and civil-commitment facilities, and high school, college or pro sporting events, among other listed places. Written school authorisation is an exception. Shorter blades are outside this statute.","ageLimits":"Under 18 carrying a location-restricted knife: Class C misdemeanour unless on own premises, in own vehicle, or under a parent or guardian's direct supervision. Selling or giving one to under-18s is an offence.","buyingImporting":"No state ban on buying knives online, including automatics. Federal Switchblade Knife Act limits interstate shipping/import of automatic knives; not re-verified here.","penalties":"Prohibited-place offence for knives: Class C misdemeanour (third-degree felony on school premises). Under-18 carrying: Class C misdemeanour.","recentChanges":"SB 1596 (eff. 1 Sep 2025) repealed a 46.01 definition; no knife-specific change found. HB 1935 (2017) replaced the 'illegal knife' list with the 5.5-inch rule.","pending":"None found. Statutes site current through 2025 sessions; next regular session January 2027."},"goodReasonExamples":[],"officialLinks":[{"title":"Texas Penal Code ch. 46 (Weapons)","url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.46.htm"},{"title":"Local Government Code 229.001 (via public.law)","url":"https://texas.public.law/statutes/tex._local_gov't_code_section_229.001"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Did not read full 46.03(a) list (polling places, courts, racetracks); bars appear handgun-only.","Statute does not say whether 'blade' is overall or cutting edge length.","Switchblade legalisation date (2013) and HB 1935 history from memory, not re-verified."],"store":"us"},{"id":"us-federal","name":"United States (federal law)","country":"United States","region":"north-america","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Federal law does not regulate ordinary carrying of knives on foot. It bans automatic (switchblade) and gravity/inertia knives in interstate commerce, the mail and federal enclaves, and bans weapons (knives over 2.5 in blade) in federal buildings and courthouses. State and local law governs everyday carry.","legalBasis":[{"title":"15 U.S.C. 1242 (interstate commerce ban)","url":"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1242","quote":"Whoever knowingly introduces... into interstate commerce, or transports or distributes in interstate commerce, any switchblade knife, shall be fined... or imprisoned not more than five years"},{"title":"15 U.S.C. 1241(b), 1244(5) (definition and spring-assist exception)","url":"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1244","quote":"a spring, detent, or other mechanism designed to create a bias toward closure of the blade"},{"title":"18 U.S.C. 930(g)(2) (federal facility)","url":"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/930","quote":"such term does not include a pocket knife with a blade of less than 2½ inches in length."}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic","gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Federal definition covers button-release and inertia/gravity blades. Banned in federal enclaves, territories, Indian country, interstate sale/transport and the mail. Elsewhere, state law decides carrying. Exceptions: one-armed users (3 in or less), military.","sourceUrl":"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1243"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Spring-assisted knives needing hand pressure on the blade to overcome closure bias are excluded from the federal switchblade ban since 2009. Federal-facility limits still apply.","sourceUrl":"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1244"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool","keychain-tool","scissors-only"],"blade_mm_lte":63.5},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No federal rule on carrying a pocket knife with blade under 2.5 in. Excluded from 'dangerous weapon' in federal facilities. State and local law still applies.","sourceUrl":"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/930"},{"when":{"form":["folder","fixed","multitool","keychain-tool","scissors-only"]},"verdict":"restricted","reason":"Everyday carry outdoors is not federally regulated, but a larger knife can be a 'dangerous weapon': banned in federal buildings (up to 1 year) and federal court facilities (up to 2 years).","sourceUrl":"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/930"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Items without a classifiable blade: federal law does not restrict ordinary carry; ballistic knives are banned in federal jurisdiction (15 U.S.C. 1245).","sourceUrl":"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1245"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"No federal rule on knives in private vehicles; state law applies.","transportAndZones":"Federal facilities and courthouses (18 USC 930); also TSA bars most knives in airport cabins (not checked this session). Military bases and national parks have own rules (not verified).","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"Federal workplaces covered by 18 USC 930 if employees regularly present; exception for lawful purposes (930(d)(3)). Schools are state law.","ageLimits":"No federal minimum age for owning or carrying a knife.","buyingImporting":"Interstate shipment/distribution of automatic or gravity knives is a federal crime (15 USC 1242); mail nonmailable except to government buyers (18 USC 1716(g)). Import of switchblades is also barred under 15 USC 1241-1245 framework (import rules not separately verified). Ordinary folders may be mailed.","penalties":"Switchblade offences: up to 5 years and $2,000 fine (15 USC 1242-1243). Federal facility: up to 1 year; court facility: up to 2 years; with criminal intent 5 years.","recentChanges":"2009 (Pub. L. 111-83, 28 Oct 2009) excluded spring-assisted knives from the Switchblade Act. No 2025-2026 change found.","pending":"None verified. Preemption: federal law does not preempt state or local knife laws; many states have their own preemption statutes (not verified here)."},"goodReasonExamples":[],"officialLinks":[{"title":"15 U.S.C. ch. 29 Switchblade Knives","url":"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1241"},{"title":"18 U.S.C. 930","url":"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/930"},{"title":"18 U.S.C. 1716","url":"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1716"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["USPS Publication 52 sec. 444 text not opened","Import rules (CBP) not verified","TSA rules not verified","Cornell LII used as secondary mirror of official US Code"],"store":"us"},{"id":"au-vic","name":"Victoria","country":"Australia","region":"oceania","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Any knife that is not a prohibited weapon is a 'controlled weapon': carrying it without lawful excuse risks up to 1 year. Lawful excuse covers work, sport, collecting; self-defence does not. Flick, butterfly, push, dagger, ceramic/non-metal knives and machetes are prohibited and need approval or a government exemption.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Control of Weapons Act 1990 s.6 (Version 075, 26 March 2025)","url":"https://content.legislation.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-03/90-24aa075-authorised.pdf","quote":"A person must not possess, carry or use a controlled weapon without lawful excuse."},{"title":"Victoria Police: weapons definitions","url":"https://www.police.vic.gov.au/weapons-definitions","quote":"Self-defence is not a lawful excuse for carrying controlled weapon or dangerous articles."},{"title":"Victoria Police: list of prohibited weapons","url":"https://www.police.vic.gov.au/list-prohibited-weapons","quote":"Self-protection or self-defence is not a lawful excuse to possess these articles."},{"title":"Victoria Police: machete ban","url":"https://www.police.vic.gov.au/machete-ban","quote":"From 1 September 2025, machetes were classified as prohibited weapons in Victoria."}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"A knife whose blade is concealed when folded into the handle and opens by gravity, centrifugal force or button/spring is a prohibited 'flick knife', even if partially visible when closed. Butterfly knives are also prohibited. Needs Chief Commissioner approval or an exemption.","sourceUrl":"https://www.police.vic.gov.au/list-prohibited-weapons"},{"when":{"opening":["gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Butterfly knives (two-piece handle folding over the blade) and gravity/centrifugal flick knives are prohibited weapons.","sourceUrl":"https://www.police.vic.gov.au/list-prohibited-weapons"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"A spring-assisted knife is a flick knife only if designed so the blade is concealed in the handle and opens by spring pressure; a visible-blade assisted flipper may be a normal controlled weapon. No case found; high risk.","sourceUrl":"https://www.police.vic.gov.au/list-prohibited-weapons"},{"when":{"form":["scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Scissors without a knife blade: no specific restriction found; any item carried to use as a weapon is a 'dangerous article'.","sourceUrl":"https://www.police.vic.gov.au/weapons-definitions"},{"when":{},"verdict":"reason","reason":"Other knives (folders, fixed blades, multitools with a blade) are controlled weapons: need a lawful excuse (employment, lawful sport/recreation, collection). Courts consider time and place. Self-defence is excluded. Daggers, throwing blades and machetes are prohibited.","sourceUrl":"https://content.legislation.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-03/90-24aa075-authorised.pdf"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"No vehicle exemption seen; a controlled weapon must be carried 'in a safe and secure manner' consistent with the excuse (s.6(2), 20 penalty units).","transportAndZones":"Police may declare 'designated areas' (up to 24 hours; sometimes 6 months) where they can wand-scan, pat down and search bags without suspicion. Higher penalty (240 pu / 2 years) for possession in or near licensed premises.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"No separate school offence read; the controlled-weapon offence applies anywhere.","ageLimits":"A child (under 18) must not purchase a controlled weapon (12 pu); selling one knowing the buyer is a child is 20 pu. Plastic/wooden eating knives excluded.","buyingImporting":"Prohibited weapons cannot be bought, sold or brought into Victoria without approval/exemption; federal import controls also apply. Machete sales permanently banned.","penalties":"Controlled weapon: 120 penalty units or 1 year. Prohibited weapon: up to 2 years or a fine of over $48,000 (police figure for machetes). In or near licensed premises: 240 pu or 2 years.","recentChanges":"Machetes prohibited from 1 Sept 2025 (amnesty ended 30 Nov 2025). New knife-crime sentencing offence (+3 years). Search powers widened.","pending":"None identified. The Act version we read predates the machete amendment (it was used for s.6 only)."},"goodReasonExamples":["Lawful employment, duty or activity","Participating in a lawful sport, recreation or entertainment","Legitimate collection, display or exhibition"],"officialLinks":[{"title":"Victoria Police weapons controls","url":"https://www.police.vic.gov.au/weapons-controls"},{"title":"DJCS: preventing knife and weapon crimes","url":"https://www.justice.vic.gov.au/safer-communities/tackling-high-harm-crime/preventing-knife-and-weapon-crimes"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Control of Weapons Regulations 2021 not opened directly; prohibited definitions taken from Victoria Police's page.","Whether a later Act version changed s.6 after 26 March 2025 was not checked.","Non-metal/ceramic knives, credit-card knives, double-ended and dagger prohibitions apply regardless of the form/opening vocabulary and are not modelled in the rules."],"store":"au"},{"id":"us-wa","name":"Washington State","country":"United States","region":"north-america","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"State law bans spring-blade knives (automatics, gravity and flick knives) and furtively concealing a dagger or dirk. There is no blade-length limit. Spring-assisted knives that need hand exertion to overcome the closure bias are excluded. Cities may restrict knives: Seattle bans carrying any fixed blade and any knife over 3.5 inches.","legalBasis":[{"title":"RCW 9.41.250 Dangerous weapons","url":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.250","quote":"possesses any instrument or weapon of the kind usually known as ... spring blade knife"},{"title":"RCW 9.41.270 Unlawful carrying or handling","url":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.270","quote":"carry, exhibit, display, or draw any ... knife ... in a manner ... that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons."},{"title":"Seattle SMC 12A.14.010 / 12A.14.080","url":"https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code/284572?nodeId=TIT12ACRCO_SUBTITLE_ICRCO_CH12A.14WECO_12A.14.080UNUSWE","quote":"\"Dangerous knife\" means any fixed-blade knife and any other knife having a blade more than 3½ inches in length."}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic","gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"'Spring blade knife' covers blades released automatically by spring or mechanism, or opening by gravity or outward/downward/centrifugal thrust. Possession is a gross misdemeanor, with exemptions for police, military and trade (RCW 9.41.251).","sourceUrl":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.250"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"A knife with a bias toward closure that needs hand, wrist or arm force to overcome it is expressly not a spring blade knife. A spring that opens the blade by itself without exertion would count as prohibited.","sourceUrl":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.250"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"],"double_edged":[true]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"'Dagger' and 'dirk' are not defined. Furtively carrying one with intent to conceal is a gross misdemeanor; open carry is not addressed. Local rules (Seattle) may prohibit any fixed blade.","sourceUrl":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.250"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No state ban on carrying fixed blades, but display that alarms others is an offence (9.41.270). Cities may restrict: Seattle prohibits carrying any fixed-blade knife.","sourceUrl":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.270"},{"when":{"form":["folder","multitool","keychain-tool","scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.","sourceUrl":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.270"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Catch-all: no other state restriction found; check local city ordinances.","sourceUrl":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.250"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"No knife-specific vehicle rule found at state level.","transportAndZones":"RCW 9.41.300: 'weapons' (any knife/dagger/dirk commonly used to cause injury) banned in jail restricted areas, court areas, mental-health facilities, and other listed places. Seattle: SMC 12A.14.080 bans any fixed blade or knife over 3.5 in blade, open or concealed. Tacoma: not verified.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"RCW 9.41.280: dangerous weapons per 9.41.250 (spring blade, concealed dagger/dirk), and other listed items are banned on K-12 school premises and school transport.","ageLimits":"No state knife age limit found. Seattle may restrict under-18 sales/possession (not verified for current code).","buyingImporting":"Spring blade knives: manufacture, sale and possession are offences, so online orders of automatics or flick knives to WA are risky. Ordinary knives are not restricted by state law.","penalties":"RCW 9.41.250 and 9.41.270: gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days and/or fine under chapter 9A.20).","recentChanges":"RCW 9.41.300 amended by 2024 c 285 (permitted demonstrations / weapons in listed places). RCW 9.41.270 has a version effective 1 May 2027; We did not diff it.","pending":"RCW 9.41.270 new text effective 1 May 2027."},"goodReasonExamples":[],"officialLinks":[{"title":"RCW 9.41.250","url":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.250"},{"title":"RCW 9.41.251 exceptions","url":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.251"},{"title":"RCW 9.41.300 restricted places","url":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.300"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Preemption: RCW 9.41.290 preempts only firearms, so cities can regulate knives; Seattle verified, Tacoma not verified.","Meaning of 'dagger/dirk' for double-edged blades.","Seattle exceptions under SMC 12A.14.100 (work, hunting, fishing) not opened.","Content of the RCW 9.41.270 version effective 1 May 2027."],"store":"us"},{"id":"us-dc","name":"Washington, DC","country":"United States","region":"north-america","lastVerified":"2026-10-27","summary":"DC bans possessing switchblades. It also bars carrying any 'deadly or dangerous weapon', open or concealed, with no blade-length safe harbour. Courts ask whether a knife is dangerous by design or by circumstances. A blade over 3 inches matters only when unlawful intent exists. Federal buildings and sensitive sites add stricter bans.","legalBasis":[{"title":"D.C. Code 22-4514 Possession of certain dangerous weapons","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/22-4514","quote":"No person shall ... possess any item that is, in fact, a ... switchblade knife"},{"title":"D.C. Code 22-4504 Carrying weapons (search excerpt)","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/22-4504","quote":"No person shall carry ... either openly or concealed on or about their person ... any deadly or dangerous weapon."},{"title":"AKTI District of Columbia summary (secondary)","url":"https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/district-of-columbia/","quote":"Current D.C. law does not recognize a self-defense or Constitutional right to carry a knife in the event of a confrontation."}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Possessing a switchblade is prohibited by 22-4514(a). 'Switchblade' is undefined in the statute, but automatic and OTF knives are clearly covered.","sourceUrl":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/22-4514"},{"when":{"opening":["gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"prohibited","reason":"Butterfly knives were held a deadly or dangerous weapon in U.S. v. Vinton (per AKTI), so carrying one breaches 22-4504. Not named in 22-4514; treat as a high risk.","sourceUrl":"https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/district-of-columbia/"},{"when":{"opening":["assisted"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Switchblade is undefined, so assisted openers may or may not be covered. AKTI says assisted opening may suggest a weapon rather than a tool, making them 'dangerous weapons'; avoid them.","sourceUrl":"https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/district-of-columbia/"},{"when":{"form":["fixed"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Dangerous by design or circumstances is a fact question. Fixed blades, especially daggers and double-edged ones, are likelier to be treated as weapons than pocket tools. Blades over 3 in matter under 22-4514(b) only with unlawful intent.","sourceUrl":"https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/district-of-columbia/"},{"when":{"form":["folder"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"22-4504 bars carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon. A small utility folder is generally not weapon-by-design, but circumstances can make it one. No blade-length safe harbour; DC has many weapon-free sites.","sourceUrl":"https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/district-of-columbia/"},{"when":{"form":["multitool","keychain-tool","scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"No specific restriction found for tools or scissors, but any item can count as a dangerous weapon by the circumstances of carrying. Federal sites ban more.","sourceUrl":"https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/district-of-columbia/"},{"when":{},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Catch-all: DC uses a design-and-circumstances test rather than a list; outcome is fact-specific.","sourceUrl":"https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/district-of-columbia/"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"No DC knife vehicle rule found. In Vinton a butterfly knife under a car floor mat was held dangerous (per AKTI).","transportAndZones":"Metro and museum rules not checked. Capitol: knives barred except blades 3 in or less in some buildings (AKTI; check USCP). Federal facilities: 18 U.S.C. 930 excludes only pocket knives under 2.5 in. Supreme Court bans all knives.","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"Not verified for DC schools. Federal buildings follow 18 U.S.C. 930; many DC sites run screening.","ageLimits":"AKTI notes no restriction on sale or transfer.","buyingImporting":"Switchblade possession is an offence, so orders of automatics to DC addresses are unsafe. Other knives not restricted for purchase per AKTI.","penalties":"Read directly on code.dccouncil.gov on 2026-10-27: carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon away from home or business (22-4504(a)(1)) is up to 5 years and the fine in 22-3571.01 (10 years after a prior conviction). Switchblade possession (22-4514(a)) falls under 22-4515: up to 1 year and the 22-3571.01 fine. Possessing a knife with a blade over 3 inches with intent to use it unlawfully is 22-4514(b).","recentChanges":"22-4514 amended by D.C. Law 25-175 (8 Jun 2024, Secure DC); knife wording unchanged in current text.","pending":"None found."},"goodReasonExamples":[],"officialLinks":[{"title":"D.C. Code 22-4514","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/22-4514"},{"title":"D.C. Code 22-4504","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/22-4504"},{"title":"D.C. Code 10-503.26 definitions","url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/10-503.26"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Whether assisted-openers are 'switchblades' (undefined, no case found).","DC knife age rules, Metro rules.","22-4514, 22-4504 and 22-4515 read in full on 2026-10-27; the rule rows still cite AKTI (secondary) for the butterfly knife and assisted-opener readings, because no primary case text was opened."],"store":"us"},{"id":"au-wa","name":"Western Australia","country":"Australia","region":"oceania","lastVerified":"2026-10-26","summary":"Carrying or possessing any knife or edged weapon anywhere in WA without a lawful excuse carries up to 3 years and a $36,000 fine. Lawful excuse covers work, sport, recreation and collection; self-defence does not, and the burden is on you. Butterfly and certain flick knives are prohibited. Police can wand in designated areas.","legalBasis":[{"title":"Weapons Act 1999 s.6A (as at 31 Mar 2025)","url":"https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/filestore.nsf/FileURL/mrdoc_48364.pdf/$FILE/Weapons%20Act%201999%20-%20%5B01-h0-00%5D.pdf?OpenElement","quote":"a person who, without a lawful excuse, carries or possesses an edged weapon commits an offence."},{"title":"Weapons Act 1999 s.5A and s.11","url":"https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/filestore.nsf/FileURL/mrdoc_48364.pdf/$FILE/Weapons%20Act%201999%20-%20%5B01-h0-00%5D.pdf?OpenElement","quote":"does not include carrying or possessing the weapon for defence unless subsection (2) applies."},{"title":"WA Police: weapons list","url":"https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/western-australia-police-force/weapons","quote":"having a blade that is concealed when folded or recessed into the handle and that opens by gravity or centrifugal force"},{"title":"WA Police: knife and edged weapon laws","url":"https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/western-australia-police-force/wa-knife-and-edged-weapon-laws","quote":"it is an offence to carry or possess an edged weapon (including a knife) without a lawful excuse anywhere in the state of WA."}],"rules":[{"when":{"opening":["automatic","gravity-or-inertia"]},"verdict":"unclear","reason":"Flick/switchblade and butterfly knives are prohibited weapons only if 'made or modified to be used to injure or disable a person or as a martial arts weapon'. A utility automatic could fall outside that and be an edged weapon instead, but treat as prohibited; the intent test is untested.","sourceUrl":"https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/western-australia-police-force/weapons"},{"when":{"form":["scissors-only"]},"verdict":"unrestricted","reason":"Scissors: no specific restriction found; 'edged weapon' includes articles with a sharpened edge made or modified for injury or martial use. Not tested.","sourceUrl":"https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/western-australia-police-force/wa-knife-and-edged-weapon-laws"},{"when":{},"verdict":"reason","reason":"A knife (or blade, axe, machete) anywhere in WA needs a lawful excuse: lawful work/duty/activity, sport/recreation/entertainment, or collection/display. Self-defence is excluded and you must prove the excuse. Round-tipped dull and plastic/wooden eating knives are excluded. Even with excuse, carrying that scares people is an offence.","sourceUrl":"https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/filestore.nsf/FileURL/mrdoc_48364.pdf/$FILE/Weapons%20Act%201999%20-%20%5B01-h0-00%5D.pdf?OpenElement"}],"notes":{"vehicle":"s.6A applies to 'carries or possesses' anywhere; no vehicle exemption read.","transportAndZones":"Any area can be declared a 'designated area' for metal-detector scans without a warrant; refusing is an offence (12 months / $12,000).","schoolsWorkplaceEvents":"No place limit: the offence applies state-wide. Exceptions under s.10 were not read.","ageLimits":"Selling an edged weapon to a person under 18 is an offence (3 years / $36,000); supply has a reasonable-belief defence.","buyingImporting":"Prohibited weapons cannot be brought into WA without approval. Prohibited import permit form B709 is required. Dagger (flat blade over 8 cm, non-serrated, both edges), double-end knife, machete, throwing blade and sword are controlled weapons.","penalties":"Edged weapon without lawful excuse: 3 years and $36,000. Controlled weapon: 2 years and $24,000.","recentChanges":"Police Legislation Amendment Act 2024 in force 20 Dec 2024 created the edged weapon offence and wanding.","pending":"None identified."},"goodReasonExamples":["Lawful employment, duty or activity","Lawful sport, recreation or entertainment","Lawful collection, display or exhibition"],"officialLinks":[{"title":"WA Police weapons","url":"https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/western-australia-police-force/weapons"},{"title":"WA knife and edged weapon laws","url":"https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/western-australia-police-force/wa-knife-and-edged-weapon-laws"}],"confidence":"medium","openQuestions":["Weapons Act version read is 'as at 31 Mar 2025'; later amendments not checked.","Section 10 exceptions not read.","Whether a utility automatic knife is 'prohibited' depends on the intent qualifier; no case law found."],"store":"au"}],"products":[{"id":"victorinox-classic-sd","brand":"Victorinox","name":"Classic SD","kind":"knife","category":"slipjoint","summary":"58 mm Swiss Army knife, non-locking small blade (about 40 mm), scissors, nail file, tweezers; weighs 21 g.","officialUrl":"https://www.victorinox.com/en-US/Products/Swiss-Army-Knife%E2%84%A2-and-Tools/Essentials/Classic-SD/p/0.6223","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victorinox.com/en-US/Products/Swiss-Army-Knife%E2%84%A2-and-Tools/Essentials/Classic-SD/p/0.6223","fields":["model_code","lock","opening","closed_mm (58 mm per 0.6223.G page)","weight_g","tools"]},{"url":"https://www.victorinox.com/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knife%E2%84%A2-and-Tools/Essentials/Classic-SD-Classic-Colors/p/0.6223.G","fields":["closed_mm 58","weight_g 21"]},{"url":"https://www.knivesandtools.com/en/pt/-victorinox-classic-sd.htm","fields":["blade_mm 40","edge_mm 34","steel 1.4110"]}],"amazonQuery":"Victorinox Classic SD 0.6223","confidence":"medium","weight_g":21,"notes":"Blade/edge numbers come from one retailer (knivesandtools), not the maker. Maker page shows 'Classic SD Printed' title for 0.6223 on the US site; same tool set. 58 mm length is stated on the 0.6223.G sibling page.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"none","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":40,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":98},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Nail-nick, needs two hands; Victorinox lists 'One hand blade: No' and 'Blade lockable: No'.","otherTools":["scissors","nail file with 2.5 mm screwdriver","tweezers","toothpick","key ring"],"closed_mm":58,"steel":"stainless (knivesandtools lists 1.4110, 56 HRC; Victorinox page gives no steel)"},{"id":"victorinox-cadet-alox","brand":"Victorinox","name":"Cadet (Alox)","kind":"knife","category":"slipjoint","summary":"84 mm Swiss Army knife with Alox scales, one non-locking blade (about 64 mm), can/bottle openers, nail file; weighs 46 g.","officialUrl":"https://www.victorinox.com/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knife%E2%84%A2-and-Tools/Essentials/Cadet-Alox/p/0.2601.26","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victorinox.com/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knife%E2%84%A2-and-Tools/Essentials/Cadet-Alox/p/0.2601.26","fields":["closed_mm 84","weight_g 46","tools","lock","opening"]},{"url":"https://www.knivesandtools.com/en/pt/-victorinox-cadet-silver.htm","fields":["blade_mm 64","closed 83","weight 46"]},{"url":"http://sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Knife+Blade","fields":["84 mm large blade edge 52 mm"]}],"amazonQuery":"Victorinox Cadet Alox 0.2601.26","confidence":"medium","weight_g":46,"notes":"Review page was only seen as a search excerpt, not fully opened; its Rose Edition Cadet measured 63 mm blade / 53 mm edge. The maker publishes no blade length. 'Cadet' without Alox (0.2601.2) not found on maker site.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"none","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":64,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":148},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Nail-nick, two hands. Victorinox: 'One hand blade: No', 'Blade lockable: No'. The cellidor Cadet 0.2601.2 URL returned 404 on the US site; the Alox Cadet 0.2601.26 is the current listing, so it is used instead.","otherTools":["can opener with 3 mm screwdriver","bottle opener with 6 mm screwdriver and wire stripper","nail file with nail cleaner","key ring"],"closed_mm":84,"steel":"stainless (knivesandtools lists 1.4110, 56 HRC; Victorinox page gives no steel)"},{"id":"victorinox-spartan","brand":"Victorinox","name":"Spartan","kind":"knife","category":"slipjoint","summary":"91 mm Swiss Army knife with two non-locking blades (large edge about 58-62 mm), corkscrew, can opener, awl; weighs 59 g.","officialUrl":"https://www.victorinox.com/en-US/Products/Swiss-Army-Knife%E2%84%A2-and-Tools/Essentials/Spartan/p/1.3603","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victorinox.com/en-US/Products/Swiss-Army-Knife%E2%84%A2-and-Tools/Essentials/Spartan/p/1.3603","fields":["tools","lock","opening","closed 91 mm (en page)","weight 59 g"]},{"url":"http://sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Knife+Blade","fields":["91 mm large blade edge 58 mm","small blade edge ~36 mm"]}],"amazonQuery":"Victorinox Spartan 1.3603","confidence":"medium","weight_g":59,"notes":"Edge of the 91 mm large blade is not published by Victorinox; blade-specific numbers come from SAKWiki (58 mm edge) and knivesandtools Huntsman page (blade 70, edge 62; a black variant page says 67/66). 91 mm large blade is shared across Spartan/Climber/Huntsman. 1.3603 weight 59 g from victorinox.com/en page seen in search excerpt; US page shows 2.1 oz.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"none","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":67,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":158},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Nail-nick, two hands; neither blade locks (Victorinox 'Blade lockable: No', 'One hand blade: No').","otherTools":["corkscrew","reamer/punch/awl","can opener with 3 mm screwdriver","bottle opener with 6 mm screwdriver and wire stripper","tweezers","toothpick","key ring"],"closed_mm":91,"steel":"stainless (knivesandtools lists 1.4110, 56 HRC; Victorinox page gives no steel)"},{"id":"victorinox-climber","brand":"Victorinox","name":"Climber","kind":"knife","category":"slipjoint","summary":"91 mm Swiss Army knife, two non-locking blades (large edge about 58-62 mm), scissors, hook, corkscrew; 14 functions, 82 g.","officialUrl":"https://www.victorinox.com/en-US/Products/Swiss-Army-Knife%E2%84%A2-and-Tools/Essentials/Climber/p/1.3703","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victorinox.com/en-US/Products/Swiss-Army-Knife%E2%84%A2-and-Tools/Essentials/Climber/p/1.3703","fields":["tools","lock","opening","14 functions","2.9 oz"]},{"url":"https://www.victorinox.com/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knife%E2%84%A2-and-Tools/Essentials/Climber/p/1.3703","fields":["closed 91 mm","weight 82 g"]},{"url":"http://sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Knife+Blade","fields":["edge 58 mm"]}],"amazonQuery":"Victorinox Climber 1.3703","confidence":"medium","weight_g":82,"notes":"Retailer kronium.eu (search excerpt only) gives blade 60 mm and weight 92 g, conflicting with maker's 82 g; ignored.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"none","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":67,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":158},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Nail-nick, two hands; no blade locks (Victorinox 'Blade lockable: No'). Has scissors but no saw. Note: US page says 2.9 oz (82 g); a retailer says 92 g.","otherTools":["scissors","corkscrew","reamer/punch/awl","multipurpose hook","can opener with 3 mm screwdriver","bottle opener with 6 mm screwdriver and wire stripper","tweezers","toothpick","key ring"],"closed_mm":91,"steel":"stainless (knivesandtools lists 1.4110, 56 HRC; Victorinox page gives no steel)"},{"id":"victorinox-huntsman","brand":"Victorinox","name":"Huntsman","kind":"knife","category":"slipjoint","summary":"91 mm Swiss Army knife, two non-locking blades (large edge about 58-62 mm), scissors, wood saw, corkscrew; 15 functions, 97 g.","officialUrl":"https://www.victorinox.com/en-US/Products/Swiss-Army-Knife%E2%84%A2-and-Tools/Outdoor/Huntsman/p/1.3713","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victorinox.com/en-US/Products/Swiss-Army-Knife%E2%84%A2-and-Tools/Outdoor/Huntsman/p/1.3713","fields":["tools","lock","opening","3.4 oz (97 g per CH/EU pages)"]},{"url":"https://www.knivesandtools.com/en/pt/-victorinox-huntsman.htm","fields":["blade 70","edge 62","closed 91","weight 100"]},{"url":"http://sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Knife+Blade","fields":["edge 58"]}],"amazonQuery":"Victorinox Huntsman 1.3713","confidence":"medium","weight_g":97,"notes":"Edge disagreement: SAKWiki 58 mm; knivesandtools 62 mm (red) vs 66 mm (black variant page, seen only in search excerpt). Maker gives none.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"none","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":67,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":158},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Nail-nick, two hands; no blade locks (Victorinox 'Blade lockable: No'). The wood saw is a separate non-locking tool. Knivesandtools measures: blade 70 mm, edge 62 mm, 100 g.","otherTools":["scissors","wood saw","corkscrew","reamer/punch/awl","multipurpose hook","can opener with 3 mm screwdriver","bottle opener with 6 mm screwdriver and wire stripper","tweezers","toothpick","key ring"],"closed_mm":91,"steel":"stainless (knivesandtools lists 1.4110, 56 HRC; Victorinox page gives no steel)"},{"id":"victorinox-swisscard-classic","brand":"Victorinox","name":"Swiss Card Classic","kind":"multitool","category":"multitool","summary":"82 x 55 x 4 mm credit-card-sized tool, non-locking small blade, scissors, nail file, pen; weighs 26 g.","officialUrl":"https://www.victorinox.com/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knife%E2%84%A2-and-Tools/Essentials/Swiss-Card-Classic/p/0.7100.T","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victorinox.com/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knife%E2%84%A2-and-Tools/Essentials/Swiss-Card-Classic/p/0.7100.T","fields":["tools","lock","opening","82x55x4 mm","26 g"]}],"amazonQuery":"Victorinox Swiss Card Classic 0.7100","confidence":"medium","weight_g":26,"notes":"Blade length/edge NOT verified; likely well under 50 mm but unmeasured. The model name is 'Swiss Card Classic' (maker spelling) not 'SwissCard'.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"keychain-tool","lock":"none","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":null},"edgeBasis":"unknown","openingNote":"Blade is pivoted from the card body; Victorinox lists 'Blade lockable: No', 'One hand blade: No'. Card is 82 x 55 x 4 mm. Form chosen 'keychain-tool' per schema list; 'folder' could also be argued since it has a pivoting blade.","otherTools":["scissors","nail file with 2.5 mm screwdriver","ruler cm/in","pin","tweezers","toothpick","pressurized ballpoint pen"],"closed_mm":82,"steel":null},{"id":"opinel-no07-stainless","brand":"Opinel","name":"No.07 Stainless Steel","kind":"knife","category":"locking-folder","summary":"Folding knife, 80 mm (Opinel) stainless blade with Virobloc locking ring, beech handle, 100 mm closed; about 40 g.","officialUrl":"https://www.opinel.com/en-gb/pocket-knives/stainless-steel/n7-stainless-steel","sources":[{"url":"https://www.opinel.com/en-gb/pocket-knives/stainless-steel/n7-stainless-steel","fields":["blade 8 cm","handle 10 cm (closed length)","Virobloc ring"]},{"url":"https://www.opinel-usa.com/products/no-7-opinel-stainless-steel-blade","fields":["blade 3.07 in (78 mm)","overall 7 in","1.4 oz","Sandvik 12C27"]}],"amazonQuery":"Opinel No 7 stainless steel folding knife","confidence":"medium","weight_g":40,"notes":"Opinel (80 mm) vs US distributor (78 mm=3.07 in) differ by 2 mm; edge not published. Opinel says 'safety ring blocks blade open and closed'; treat as ring lock (a real lock on the open blade). Several reviewers call it a lock, though a 'slipjoint plus collar'.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"ring","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":80,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":180},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Fingernail notch in blade, two-hand opening; Virobloc ring must be rotated to lock open (can be done while holding, but lock is a separate rotation step). Retailers (Kaviso search excerpt) cite 78 mm blade vs Opinel 80 mm; opinel-usa gives 3.07 in = 78 mm and 1.4 oz (40 g), 7 in (178 mm) overall open.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":100,"steel":"Sandvik 12C27 (opinel-usa.com, packstack); Opinel: martensitic stainless 55-57 HRC"},{"id":"opinel-no08-stainless","brand":"Opinel","name":"No.08 Stainless Steel","kind":"knife","category":"locking-folder","summary":"Folding knife, 85 mm (Opinel) stainless blade with Virobloc locking ring, beech handle, 109 mm closed; about 45 g.","officialUrl":"https://www.opinel.com/en-int/pocket-knives/stainless-steel/n8-stainless-steel","sources":[{"url":"https://www.opinel.com/en-int/pocket-knives/stainless-steel/n8-stainless-steel","fields":["blade 8.5 cm","handle 10.9 cm","Virobloc"]},{"url":"https://www.knivesandtools.com/en/pt/-opinel-no-08rv-pocket-knife-stainless-steel-blade-length-8-5-cm.htm","fields":["blade 85","edge 85","closed 110","total 195","45 g"]},{"url":"https://www.opinel-usa.com/products/no-8-opinel-stainless-steel-blade","fields":["blade 3.28 in (83.3 mm)","overall 7.59 in","1.6 oz","Sandvik 12C27"]}],"amazonQuery":"Opinel No 8 stainless steel folding knife","confidence":"medium","weight_g":45,"notes":"Maker 85 mm blade vs US distributor 83.3 mm (3.28 in) and OutdoorGearLab 84 mm measured: 1-2 mm spread, so edge likely 80-84 mm. Opinel's closed length is 109 mm (handle length 10.9 cm); knivesandtools says 110.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"ring","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":85,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":194},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Fingernail notch, two-hand opening confirmed by OutdoorGearLab ('Opening and closing the No. 8 requires 2 hands'); Virobloc ring is a lock for the open blade. Blade measured 3.3 in (84 mm) by OutdoorGearLab.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":109,"steel":"Sandvik 12C27 (opinel-usa.com, packstack); Opinel: martensitic stainless 55-57 HRC"},{"id":"kanekoma-higonokami-sk","brand":"Nagao Kanekoma","name":"Higonokami SK (Niwaki-sold Kanekoma)","kind":"knife","category":"slipjoint","summary":"Japanese friction-folder with tail lever, no lock, SK steel blade about 71 mm (not verified edge), 109 mm folded; about 43 g.","officialUrl":"https://www.higonokami.jp/en/pg143866.html","sources":[{"url":"https://www.niwaki.com/sk-higonokami-folding-knife","fields":["blade 2.8 in / '3 in'","4.3 in folded","1.5 oz (43 g)","SK steel","no locking device"]},{"url":"https://www.higonokami.jp/en/pg143866.html","fields":["thumb push on tail to open","SK/blue/white steel options"]},{"url":"https://knifeinformer.com/higonokami-knife-review","fields":["example 170 mm overall knife: edge 73 mm, 41 g, friction folder, two-handed"]}],"amazonQuery":"Kanekoma Higonokami SK steel folding knife","confidence":"low","weight_g":43,"notes":"Maker site (higonokami.jp) lists no dimensions on the page opened. Dimensions vary by size grade and seller; the Knife Informer sample (170 mm overall, edge 73 mm) is a different size. Maker page's 'double-edged V-shaped' means V-ground on both faces, not two cutting edges. Edge length must be rechecked for a specific SKU. Niwaki also cites its listing as stock 'in stock'. Weight 1.5 oz = 43 g.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"none","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":71,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":180},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Friction folder: thumb pushes the 'chikiri' tail lever (maker's instruction) but Knife Informer calls deployment effectively two-handed; one-handed opening possible but difficult. Nothing locks; blade held only by pivot friction. Sizes XS-XL exist (100 mm folded = 'L'); this one is Niwaki's 4.3 in (109 mm) folded model, specification varies by size/seller.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":109,"steel":"SK carbon steel (Niwaki)"},{"id":"spyderco-squeak-c154","brand":"Spyderco","name":"Squeak","kind":"knife","category":"slipjoint","summary":"Spyderco Slipit folder, non-locking 51 mm blade with round-hole one-hand opening; overall 128 mm, 77 mm closed, 48 g.","officialUrl":"https://spyderco.com/products/squeak%E2%84%A2-black","sources":[{"url":"https://spyderco.com/products/squeak%E2%84%A2-black","fields":["blade 51 mm","edge 44 mm","closed 77 mm","overall 128 mm","weight 48 g (1.7 oz)","steel N690Co","lock type SlipIt","non-locking","one-hand opening"]},{"url":"https://spyderco.com/products/squeak%E2%84%A2-pink","fields":["non-locking","one-hand opening"]}],"amazonQuery":"Spyderco Squeak C154","confidence":"medium","weight_g":48,"notes":"Squeak Black shows 'Sold Out' on spyderco.com when fetched 2026-10-26; Pink variant page exists. 48 g is Spyderco's own figure and looks heavy for the size; unverified against a second source.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"none","opening":"one-hand-manual","edge_mm":44,"blade_mm":51,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":128},"edgeBasis":"published","openingNote":"Spyderco: 'one-hand-opening Trademark Round Hole, clip carry, and a non-locking mechanism'; Spyderco lists lock type as 'SlipIt'. Blade is slip-joint, not locking.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":77,"steel":"N690Co"},{"id":"spyderco-roadie-c189","brand":"Spyderco","name":"Roadie","kind":"knife","category":"slipjoint","summary":"Spyderco Slipit folder, non-locking 53 mm sheepfoot blade (44 mm edge), two-handed Double Dent opening; 76 mm closed, 28 g.","officialUrl":"https://spyderco.com/products/c189-roadie%E2%84%A2","sources":[{"url":"https://spyderco.com/products/c189-roadie%E2%84%A2","fields":["blade 53 mm","edge 44 mm","overall 129 mm","closed 76 mm","28 g","lock type SlipJoint","steel transition to M398"]},{"url":"https://www.spydiewiki.com/index.php?title=C189_Roadie&oldid=12888","fields":["measurements table identical","opening via Double Dent two-handed"]}],"amazonQuery":"Spyderco Roadie C189","confidence":"high","weight_g":28,"notes":"has_thumb_stud_or_hole is true only because of the round hole, which Spyderco says is NOT an opening feature; a law that treats a hole as a one-hand-opening aid may disagree. Opening set to two-hand per maker.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"none","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":44,"blade_mm":53,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":129},"edgeBasis":"published","openingNote":"Spydiewiki quoting Spyderco catalog: 'Double Dent' dimples allow 'fingernail-free two-handed opening'; the Round Hole is 'not intended as an opening feature' though it can be used one-handed by some users. Held open by notched-joint spring (Spyderco lock type 'SlipJoint').","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":76,"steel":"N690Co (transitioning to M398 per Spyderco)"},{"id":"spyderco-ladybug-3","brand":"Spyderco","name":"Ladybug 3","kind":"knife","category":"locking-folder","summary":"Spyderco keychain-size folder with back lock, 48 mm VG-10 blade (43 mm edge), round-hole opening; 63 mm closed, 20 g.","officialUrl":"https://spyderco.com/products/ladybug%C2%AE-3","sources":[{"url":"https://spyderco.com/products/ladybug%C2%AE-3","fields":["blade 48 mm","edge 43 mm","closed 63 mm","overall 111 mm","20 g","lock type Back Lock","VG-10"]}],"amazonQuery":"Spyderco Ladybug 3 LBKP3","confidence":"high","weight_g":20,"notes":"The Ladybug 3 LOCKS (back lock) per Spyderco, so it is not a slipjoint; included as the locking comparator. The CPM SPY27 version has the same blade dimensions and weight 17 g.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"back","opening":"one-hand-manual","edge_mm":43,"blade_mm":48,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":111},"edgeBasis":"published","openingNote":"Trademark Round Hole in blade; Spyderco: 'fingernail-free opening'; back lock engages.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":63,"steel":"VG-10"},{"id":"case-trapper-6254-ss","brand":"W.R. Case & Sons","name":"Trapper","kind":"knife","category":"slipjoint","summary":"Slipjoint folder with clip and spey blades, main blade 3.25 in with 3.00 in (76.2 mm) cutting edge, 4 1/8 in closed.","officialUrl":null,"sources":[{"url":"https://www.bladehq.com/item--Case-Trapper-Knife-4-Old-Red-Bone--23130","fields":["blade 3.25 in","cutting edge 3.00 in","overall 7.375 in","closed 4.125 in","3.90 oz","slip joint","nail nick","Tru-Sharp"]},{"url":"https://www.casexx.com/Details/?ProductCode=2800&Patid=60","fields":["closed length 4 1/8","clip and spey blades"]}],"amazonQuery":"Case Trapper 6254 SS","confidence":"medium","weight_g":111,"notes":"Edge of exactly 76.2 mm (3.00 in) sits ON the common 3-inch threshold: rounded retailer figure, not a maker measurement, so cannot decide legality. Case's own site was not opened (casexx.com is Shepherd Hills Cutlery, a retailer). Spey blade length unknown. Weight ranges 3.9-4.0 oz.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"none","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":76.2,"blade_mm":82.6,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":187},"edgeBasis":"published","openingNote":"Nail nicks on both blades; two-hand. Two independently opening slipjoint blades, no lock (KnifeWorks, BladeHQ 'Slip Joint').","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":104.8,"steel":"Tru-Sharp surgical stainless"},{"id":"case-mini-trapper-6207-ss","brand":"W.R. Case & Sons","name":"Mini Trapper","kind":"knife","category":"slipjoint","summary":"Slipjoint folder with clip and spey blades, main blade 2.75 in (about 70 mm), 3.5 in (89 mm) closed.","officialUrl":null,"sources":[{"url":"https://www.bladehq.com/item--Case-Mini-Trapper-Knife-3-Deep-Sea--23102","fields":["blade 2.75 in","edge 2.25 in","6.25 in overall","2.55 oz"]},{"url":"https://www.knifecenter.com/item/CA13313/case-smooth-natural-bone-mini-trapper-6207-ss","fields":["closed 3.50 in","2.7 oz","slipjoint non-locking"]},{"url":"https://casexx.com/Pattern/DisplayPattern.asp?PatternAutoID=36","fields":["closed length 3 1/2","clip and spey"]}],"amazonQuery":"Case Mini Trapper 6207 SS","confidence":"low","weight_g":71,"notes":"BladeHQ's own cutting-edge figure varies 2.25-2.50 in across SKUs of the same pattern. The two BladeHQ Mini Trapper pages and the KnifeCenter page were seen in search-result excerpts only, not opened in full. Weight listed 2.4-2.7 oz.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"none","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":69.9,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":159},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Nail nicks, two-hand; slip joint, no lock (BladeHQ 'Lock Type: Slip Joint', 'Opener: Nail Nick').","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":88.9,"steel":"Tru-Sharp surgical stainless"},{"id":"benchmade-bugout-535","brand":"Benchmade","name":"Bugout","kind":"knife","category":"folding knife","summary":"Folding knife, 3.24 in (82 mm) S30V drop-point blade, AXIS lock, 4.22 in closed, 1.85 oz (52 g).","officialUrl":"https://www.benchmade.com/products/535","sources":[{"url":"https://www.benchmade.com/products/535","fields":"blade 3.24in/8.23cm, closed 4.22in/10.72cm, weight 1.85oz/52.45g, S30V, AXIS lock"},{"url":"https://www.knifeart.com/benchmade-bugout.html","fields":"blade 3.24in, closed 4.22in, 1.85oz, AXIS lock (retailer, matches maker)"}],"amazonQuery":"Benchmade Bugout 535 knife","confidence":"medium","weight_g":52.45,"notes":"Blade is 3.24in = 82.3mm, confirmed on maker page (not 3in/76mm). Cutting-edge length not published; edge is at most the blade length.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"axis","opening":"one-hand-manual","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":82.3,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":190},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Dual ambidextrous thumb studs per common spec; Benchmade page text states one-handed opening via ambidextrous AXIS design but does not name the opener. Not assisted, not automatic.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":107.2,"steel":"CPM-S30V (58-60 HRC); other 535 variants use S90V/other steels"},{"id":"benchmade-mini-bugout-533","brand":"Benchmade","name":"Mini Bugout","kind":"knife","category":"folding knife","summary":"Folding knife, 2.82 in (72 mm) S30V drop-point blade, AXIS lock, 3.7 in closed, 1.5 oz (43 g).","officialUrl":"https://www.benchmade.com/products/533","sources":[{"url":"https://www.benchmade.com/products/533","fields":"blade 2.82in/7.16cm, closed 3.7in/9.4cm, open 6.49in, weight 1.5oz/42.52g, S30V, AXIS lock"},{"url":"https://www.benchmade.com/products/535","fields":"full-size comparison"}],"amazonQuery":"Benchmade Mini Bugout 533 knife","confidence":"medium","weight_g":42.52,"notes":"Some Benchmade marketing copy says 3.75in closed vs 3.7in/9.4cm in the spec table; spec table used. Edge length not published.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"axis","opening":"one-hand-manual","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":71.6,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":166},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Dual ambidextrous thumb studs per common spec; maker page says AXIS design allows one-handed opening from either side. Not assisted.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":94,"steel":"CPM-S30V (58-60 HRC)"},{"id":"spyderco-para-3-c223gp","brand":"Spyderco","name":"Para 3","kind":"knife","category":"folding knife","summary":"Folding knife, 2.93 in (74 mm) blade with 2.62 in (67 mm) edge, S45VN, Compression Lock, thumb hole, 3.4 oz (96 g).","officialUrl":"https://www.spyderco.com/products/c223g-para%C2%AE-3","sources":[{"url":"https://www.spyderco.com/products/c223g-para%C2%AE-3","fields":"page data for all C223G variants (incl. C223GP): blade 2.93in/74mm, edge 2.62in/67mm, closed 4.29in/109mm, overall 7.2in/183mm, 3.4oz/96g, S45VN, Compression Lock, thumb hole"},{"url":"https://www.spydiewiki.com/index.php/C223_Para_3","fields":"C223G blade 75mm/2.95in, edge 67mm/2.62in, 96g (community wiki; slight blade rounding difference)"}],"amazonQuery":"Spyderco Para 3 C223GP","confidence":"high","weight_g":96,"notes":"Maker copy says 'three-inch blade' but structured spec is 2.93in/74mm. 2.92in is the Para 3 Lightweight (FRN, C223PBBK), a different model. Older versions used S30V.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"compression","opening":"one-hand-manual","edge_mm":67,"blade_mm":74,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":183},"edgeBasis":"published","openingNote":"Trademark Round Hole (thumb hole), ambidextrous one-hand opening. No flipper, not assisted.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":109,"steel":"CPM S45VN"},{"id":"spyderco-delica-4-c11","brand":"Spyderco","name":"Delica 4 (Lightweight)","kind":"knife","category":"folding knife","summary":"Folding knife, 2.9 in (74 mm) VG-10 blade with 2.56 in (65 mm) edge, back lock, thumb hole, 2.6 oz (74 g).","officialUrl":"https://www.spyderco.com/products/c11lt-delica%C2%AE-4-lightweight","sources":[{"url":"https://www.spyderco.com/products/c11lt-delica%C2%AE-4-lightweight","fields":"page data: blade 2.9in/74mm, edge 2.56in/65mm, closed 4.25in/108mm, overall 7.11in/181mm, 2.6oz/74g, VG-10, Back Lock, FRN"},{"url":"https://www.spydiewiki.com/index.php/C11_Delica","fields":"Delica 4 FRN: blade 73mm, edge 65mm, closed 108mm, 71g (historic measurements)"}],"amazonQuery":"Spyderco Delica 4 C11PBK","confidence":"high","weight_g":74,"notes":"Current maker page lists 74mm blade/74g; older catalogues and retailers list 2.875in (73mm)/2.5oz (71g). Edge 65mm in both. Delica 4 'C11' is a family (FRN, flat-ground, stainless-handle variants differ slightly).","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"back","opening":"one-hand-manual","edge_mm":65,"blade_mm":74,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":182},"edgeBasis":"published","openingNote":"Trademark Round Hole (thumb hole). No flipper, not assisted.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":108,"steel":"VG-10"},{"id":"civivi-elementum-c907a","brand":"CIVIVI","name":"Elementum","kind":"knife","category":"folding knife","summary":"Folding knife, 2.96 in (75.2 mm) D2 blade, liner lock, flipper opening, 6.99 in overall, 2.89 oz (82 g).","officialUrl":"https://www.civivi.com/products/civivi-elementum-c907a","sources":[{"url":"https://www.civivi.com/products/civivi-elementum-c907a","fields":"blade 2.96in/75.2mm, overall 6.99in/177.6mm, handle length 4.03in/102.4mm, 2.89oz/82g, D2, liner lock, ceramic ball bearing pivot"}],"amazonQuery":"CIVIVI Elementum C907A flipper knife","confidence":"medium","weight_g":82,"notes":"75.2mm is just under 76.2mm (3in) overall blade; cutting edge not published. Other C907 variants (e.g. C907A-7 Lexan 73.1g) differ in weight.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"liner","opening":"one-hand-manual","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":75.2,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":178},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Flipper (product named 'Flipper Knife'; maker description says flip open with thumb or index finger). Not assisted.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":102.4,"steel":"D2 (59-61 HRC)"},{"id":"kershaw-leek-1660","brand":"Kershaw","name":"Leek","kind":"knife","category":"folding knife","summary":"Folding knife, 3 in (76 mm) 14C28N blade, spring-assisted flipper opening, frame lock, 4 in closed, 3 oz (85 g).","officialUrl":"https://kershaw.kaiusa.com/leek.html","sources":[{"url":"https://kershaw.kaiusa.com/leek.html","fields":"Type Assisted; Opening Action Assisted; opens with flipper; frame lock; blade 3in/7.6cm; closed 4in; overall 7in; 3oz/85g; 14C28N"}],"amazonQuery":"Kershaw Leek 1660","confidence":"high","weight_g":85,"notes":"Yes: the Leek 1660 is assisted-opening. Edge length not on maker page; a retailer listing for variant 1660GBLK gave 2.94in (74.7mm) edge (seen in search excerpt, page not opened). Some retailer copy calls the opener a 'thumb stud'; maker says flipper. Variant listings (e.g. USA Flag) show inconsistent lock labels; standard 1660 is a frame lock.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"frame","opening":"assisted","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":76.2,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":178},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Kershaw SpeedSafe spring-assisted opening, deployed by flipper (maker: 'Opening Action: Assisted; Opens With: Flipper'). Tip-Lock only secures blade closed.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":101.6,"steel":"Sandvik 14C28N (58-60 HRC)"},{"id":"ontario-rat-1-8848","brand":"Ontario Knife Company","name":"RAT Model 1 (RAT I)","kind":"knife","category":"folding knife","summary":"Folding knife, 3.5 in (89 mm) AUS-8 blade, liner lock, thumb stud, 5 in closed, about 142 g (retailer).","officialUrl":"https://ontarioknife.com/products/rat-i-sp","sources":[{"url":"https://ontarioknife.com/products/rat-i-sp","fields":"blade 3.5in/8.89cm, closed 5in/12.7cm, AUS-8, thumb stud, satin finish (no weight or edge length on page)"},{"url":"https://www.knivesandtools.com/en/pt/-ontario-rat-1-sp-plain-edge-8848.htm","fields":"retailer: cutting edge 8.5cm, blade 9.5cm (conflicts with maker), closed 12.7cm, 142g, AUS8"}],"amazonQuery":"Ontario RAT 1 8848 folding knife","confidence":"medium","weight_g":142,"notes":"Edge (85mm) and weight (142g) come from a retailer, not Ontario's page; the same retailer's 95mm 'blade' conflicts with Ontario's 3.5in/88.9mm. The Ontario page I opened does not state the lock type; 'liner lock' comes from Ontario's catalogue/retailer titles seen in search results (those pages not opened) - lock unverified on an opened page. Other retailers list 3.6in.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"liner","opening":"one-hand-manual","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":88.9,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":216},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Thumb stud (maker page); retailers say dual thumb studs. Not assisted.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":127,"steel":"AUS-8"},{"id":"crkt-squid-2490ks","brand":"CRKT","name":"Squid (Thumbstud)","kind":"knife","category":"folding knife","summary":"Folding knife, 2.16 in (55 mm) 8Cr13MoV blade, frame lock, manual thumb-stud opening, 3.48 in closed, 3.5 oz (99 g).","officialUrl":"https://www.crkt.com/knife/squid-thumbstud-folding-knife-with-frame-lock","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crkt.com/knife/squid-thumbstud-folding-knife-with-frame-lock","fields":"blade 2.16in/54.76mm, overall 5.70in, closed 3.48in/88.29mm, 3.5oz/99.22g, 8Cr13MoV, 'Folding Knife with Frame Lock'"}],"amazonQuery":"CRKT Squid 2490KS frame lock","confidence":"medium","weight_g":99.22,"notes":"Yes, the standard Squid has a frame lock; the Squid family also has other lock variants (liner, button) sold under different SKUs. Retailers vary: B&H lists 2.14in blade and 2Cr13 steel in one line vs 8Cr13MoV in another; maker says 2.16in/8Cr13MoV.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"frame","opening":"one-hand-manual","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":54.76,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":143},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Manual thumb studs (model is named 'Thumbstud'). Not assisted; assisted version is the separate Squid Assisted 2493.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":88.29,"steel":"8Cr13MoV"},{"id":"crkt-squid-assisted-2493","brand":"CRKT","name":"Squid Assisted","kind":"knife","category":"folding knife","summary":"Folding knife, 2.37 in (60 mm) 8Cr14MoV blade, frame lock, spring-assisted flipper opening, 3.59 in closed, 3.7 oz (105 g).","officialUrl":"https://www.crkt.com/knife/squid-assisted-folding-knife-with-frame-lock","sources":[{"url":"https://www.crkt.com/knife/squid-assisted-folding-knife-with-frame-lock","fields":"blade 2.37in/60.20mm, overall 5.94in, closed 3.59in/91.14mm, 3.70oz/104.89g, 8Cr14MoV, assisted, frame lock"}],"amazonQuery":"CRKT Squid Assisted 2493","confidence":"medium","weight_g":104.89,"notes":"Added as 13th product because the Squid name covers both manual and assisted knives and the opening type changes the legal verdict.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"frame","opening":"assisted","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":60.2,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":151},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Maker: 'Assisted Opening: Flipper deploys the blade fast'; flipper-activated spring assist.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":91.14,"steel":"8Cr14MoV"},{"id":"morakniv-companion","brand":"Morakniv","name":"Companion (stainless, Hi-Vis Orange shown)","kind":"knife","category":"fixed blade knife","summary":"Fixed-blade knife, 104 mm (4.1 in) 12C27 stainless blade, 2.5 mm thick, 219 mm long, 118 g.","officialUrl":"https://www.morakniv.com/en/products/companion-s","sources":[{"url":"https://www.morakniv.com/en/products/companion-s","fields":"blade 104mm/4.1in, thickness 2.5mm, knife length 219mm, product length 233mm, 118.4g, 12C27, Scandi"}],"amazonQuery":"Morakniv Companion stainless steel fixed blade","confidence":"medium","weight_g":118.4,"notes":"Maker lists both 'knife length 219mm' and 'product length 233mm'; the second likely includes packaging/sheath (not stated). The page also exists as Companion (C) carbon steel and Heavy Duty (3.2mm) variants. Cutting-edge length not published.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"fixed","lock":"none","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":104,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":null},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Fixed blade; no opening or lock. Sold with polymer sheath.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":null,"steel":"Sandvik/Alleima 12C27 stainless (56.5 HRC), Scandi grind"},{"id":"esee-izula-ii","brand":"ESEE","name":"Izula-II","kind":"knife","category":"fixed blade knife (neck knife)","summary":"Fixed-blade knife, 2.63 in (67 mm) 1095 carbon-steel blade, 6.75 in overall, 3.2 oz (91 g) without sheath.","officialUrl":"https://www.eseeknives.com/product/izula-ii","sources":[{"url":"https://www.eseeknives.com/product/izula-ii","fields":"overall 6.75in (171.5mm), blade 2.63in (66.8mm), thickness .156in, 1095 55-57Rc, 3.2oz w/o sheath, flat grind"}],"amazonQuery":"ESEE Izula II knife","confidence":"high","weight_g":90.7,"notes":"Carbon steel, not stainless. Cutting-edge length not published; 2.63in is blade length.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"fixed","lock":"none","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":66.8,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":null},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Fixed blade; sold with molded sheath/clip plate; commonly worn on a neck cord.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":null,"steel":"1095 high carbon (55-57 HRC)"},{"id":"buck-110-folding-hunter","brand":"Buck","name":"110 Folding Hunter","kind":"knife","category":"folding knife","summary":"Folding knife, 3.75 in (95 mm) 420HC clip-point blade, lockback, nail-nick opening, 4.875 in closed, 7.2 oz (204 g).","officialUrl":"https://www.buckknives.com/product/110-folding-hunter-knife/","sources":[{"url":"https://www.buckknives.com/pdf/2024DealerCatalog_Digital.pdf","fields":"110 Folding Hunter: clip point 420HC, blade 3.75in/9.50cm, thickness 0.120in, closed 4.875in/12.38cm, 7.20oz/204g; lockback described"}],"amazonQuery":"Buck 110 Folding Hunter 0110BRS","confidence":"medium","weight_g":204,"notes":"Buck's own product page rendered without spec values; specs taken from Buck's 2024 dealer catalogue (opened). Opening type (nail nick) not confirmed on any page I opened; widely documented. Catalog lists 9.50cm vs 9.53cm blade across entries.","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"back","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":95.3,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":219},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"Traditional nail-nick opener with no thumb stud, hole or flipper (per retailer listings; Buck page text not retrievable). Needs two hands. Some other 110 variants (Pro, Auto) differ; Auto versions are automatic and excluded.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":123.8,"steel":"420HC (Paul Bos heat treat)"},{"id":"gerber-paraframe-i","brand":"Gerber","name":"Paraframe I (stainless, plain edge)","kind":"knife","category":"folding knife","summary":"Folding knife, 3.01 in (76.5 mm) stainless blade, frame lock, one-handed opening, stainless open-frame handle.","officialUrl":"https://gerbergear.com/products/paraframe-i-stainless-plain-edge-22-48444n","sources":[{"url":"https://gerbergear.com/products/paraframe-i-stainless-plain-edge-22-48444n","fields":"frame lock handle design, stainless open frame, pocket clip (no dimensions on page)"},{"url":"https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gerber-Paraframe-I-3-in-Stainless-Steel-Folding-Knife-31-003184N/207048178","fields":"blade 3.01in, frame lock, clip point, one-handed opening, weight 0.25 lb (retailer)"}],"amazonQuery":"Gerber Paraframe I plain edge 22-48444","confidence":"low","weight_g":null,"notes":"Gerber's page gives no dimensions. 3.01in = 76.5mm, slightly over a 3in/76.2mm threshold, so edge length matters; not published. Weight conflicts across retailers (0.25 lb vs 2.6 oz), so left null. Paraframe chosen over Mullet (not researched).","hasBlade":true,"attrs":{"form":"folder","lock":"frame","opening":"one-hand-manual","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":76.5,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":null},"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","openingNote":"One-handed opening confirmed by retailer; dual thumbstuds per common listings (not confirmed on an opened page). Not assisted.","otherTools":[],"closed_mm":null,"steel":"High carbon stainless (retailer)"},{"id":"leatherman-wave-plus","brand":"Leatherman","name":"Wave Plus","kind":"multitool","category":"multitool","summary":"18-tool pliers multitool; 2.92 in (74 mm) locking plain knife, serrated knife, saw, spring scissors; 4 in closed, 8.5 oz.","officialUrl":"https://www.leatherman.com/products/wave","sources":[],"amazonQuery":"Leatherman Wave Plus multitool","confidence":"medium","weight_g":241,"notes":"","hasBlade":true,"discontinued":false,"attrs":{"form":"multitool","lock":"other","opening":"one-hand-manual","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":74.2,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":176},"attrsUncertain":false,"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","cuttingTools":[{"name":"420HC Knife","type":"plain knife","blade_mm":74.2,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":"other","opening":"one-hand-manual","notes":"Maker spec 'Primary Blade Length 2.92 in'; 'Blade Lock: Yes' (lock type not stated on page; outside-accessible per maker 'Open tools easily with one hand'). Maker does not publish edge length; not measured."},{"name":"420HC Serrated Knife","type":"serrated","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":"other","opening":"one-hand-manual","notes":"Length not published separately; 'Implement Locking: Yes'. Opening inferred from the maker's 'open tools easily with one hand' statement."},{"name":"Saw","type":"saw","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":"other","opening":"one-hand-manual","notes":"Length not published."},{"name":"Spring-action Scissors","type":"scissors","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":"one-hand-manual","notes":"Scissors blade length from pivot NOT published by maker - needed for US 4 in / EU 6 cm airline rules."},{"name":"Premium Replaceable Wire Cutters","type":"wire cutter","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":""},{"name":"Premium Replaceable Hard-wire Cutters","type":"wire cutter","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":""}],"tools":["Needlenose Pliers","Regular Pliers","Premium Replaceable Wire Cutters","Premium Replaceable Hard-wire Cutters","Electrical Crimper","Wire Stripper","420HC Knife","420HC Serrated Knife","Saw","Spring-action Scissors","Ruler (8 in | 19 cm)","Can Opener","Bottle Opener","Wood/Metal File","Diamond-coated File","Large Bit Driver","Small Bit Driver","Medium Screwdriver"],"closed_mm":101.6},{"id":"leatherman-skeletool-cx","brand":"Leatherman","name":"Skeletool CX","kind":"multitool","category":"multitool","summary":"7-tool multitool; 2.6 in (66 mm) plain locking knife with thumb hole, pliers, wire cutters, bit driver; 4 in closed, 5 oz.","officialUrl":"https://www.leatherman.com/products/skeletool-cx","sources":[],"amazonQuery":"Leatherman Skeletool CX","confidence":"medium","weight_g":142,"notes":"","hasBlade":true,"discontinued":false,"attrs":{"form":"multitool","lock":"other","opening":"one-hand-manual","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":66,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":168},"attrsUncertain":false,"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","cuttingTools":[{"name":"154CM Knife","type":"plain knife","blade_mm":66,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":"other","opening":"one-hand-manual","notes":"Maker: 'Primary Blade Length 2.6 in', 'Blade Lock: Yes', 'Blade Opener: Thumb Hole', description 'straight-edge blade'. Lock type not stated. Maker does not publish edge length; not measured."},{"name":"Wire Cutters","type":"wire cutter","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":""},{"name":"Hard-wire Cutters","type":"wire cutter","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":""}],"tools":["Needlenose Pliers","Regular Pliers","Wire Cutters","Hard-wire Cutters","154CM Knife","Carabiner/Bottle Opener","Large Bit Driver"],"closed_mm":101.6},{"id":"leatherman-squirt-ps4","brand":"Leatherman","name":"Squirt PS4","kind":"multitool","category":"multitool","summary":"9-tool keychain multitool; 1.6 in (41 mm) knife, spring scissors, pliers; 2.25 in closed, 2 oz. Retired by maker.","officialUrl":"https://www.leatherman.com/products/squirt-ps4","sources":[],"amazonQuery":"Leatherman Squirt PS4 keychain multitool","confidence":"low","weight_g":57,"notes":"","hasBlade":true,"discontinued":true,"attrs":{"form":"keychain-tool","lock":"other","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":40.6,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":98},"attrsUncertain":true,"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","cuttingTools":[{"name":"420HC Knife","type":"plain knife","blade_mm":40.6,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":"Maker 'Primary Blade Length 1.6 in'. Lock and opening not stated on page (small keychain tool; do not assume)."},{"name":"Spring-action Scissors","type":"scissors","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":"Length from pivot not published."},{"name":"Spring-action Wire Cutters","type":"wire cutter","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":""}],"tools":["Spring-action Needlenose Pliers","Spring-action Regular Pliers","Spring-action Wire Cutters","420HC Knife","Spring-action Scissors","Flat/Phillips Screwdriver","Bottle Opener","Wood/Metal File","Medium Screwdriver"],"closed_mm":57.1},{"id":"leatherman-micra","brand":"Leatherman","name":"Micra","kind":"multitool","category":"multitool","summary":"10-tool keychain multitool; 1.6 in (41 mm) non-locking knife, spring scissors, tweezers; 2.5 in closed, 1.8 oz.","officialUrl":"https://www.leatherman.com/products/micra","sources":[],"amazonQuery":"Leatherman Micra keychain multitool","confidence":"medium","weight_g":51,"notes":"","hasBlade":true,"discontinued":false,"attrs":{"form":"keychain-tool","lock":"none","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":40.6,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":104},"attrsUncertain":false,"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","cuttingTools":[{"name":"420HC Knife","type":"plain knife","blade_mm":40.6,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":"none","opening":"two-hand","notes":"Maker: 'Blade Lock: No', 'Primary Blade Length 1.6 in'. Opening method not stated on page; two-hand inferred from no lock/no outside access (small slip-joint-style implement) - unverified."},{"name":"Spring-action Scissors","type":"scissors","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":"two-hand","notes":"Length from pivot not published; 'Implement Locking: No'."}],"tools":["420HC Knife","Spring-action Scissors","Flat/Phillips Screwdriver","Ruler (4.7 in | 12.0 cm)","Nail Cleaner","Tweezers","Bottle Opener","Nail File","Medium Screwdriver","Extra-small Screwdriver"],"closed_mm":63.5},{"id":"leatherman-arc","brand":"Leatherman","name":"Arc","kind":"multitool","category":"multitool","summary":"20-tool multitool; 2.76 in (70 mm) locking MagnaCut knife with thumb stud, spring scissors, saw; 4.25 in closed, 8.6 oz.","officialUrl":"https://www.leatherman.com/products/arc","sources":[],"amazonQuery":"Leatherman Arc multitool","confidence":"medium","weight_g":244,"notes":"","hasBlade":true,"discontinued":false,"attrs":{"form":"multitool","lock":"other","opening":"one-hand-manual","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":70.1,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":178},"attrsUncertain":false,"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","cuttingTools":[{"name":"MagnaCut Knife Blade","type":"plain knife","blade_mm":70.1,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":"other","opening":"one-hand-manual","notes":"Maker: 'Primary Blade Length 2.76 in', 'Blade Lock: Yes', 'Blade Opener: Thumb Stud', 'Every feature is outside-accessible'. Maker does not publish edge length; not measured."},{"name":"Spring-action Scissors","type":"scissors","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":"other","opening":"one-hand-manual","notes":"Length from pivot not published; 'Implement Locking: Yes'."},{"name":"Saw","type":"saw","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":"other","opening":"one-hand-manual","notes":"Length not published."},{"name":"Premium Replaceable Wire Cutters","type":"wire cutter","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":""},{"name":"Premium Replaceable Hard-wire Cutters","type":"wire cutter","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":""}],"tools":["MagnaCut® Knife Blade","Needlenose Pliers","Regular Pliers","Large Bit Driver","Diamond-coated File","Small Bit Driver","Wood/Metal File","Pry Tool","Premium Replaceable Wire Cutters","Premium Replaceable Hard-wire Cutters","Impact Surface","Large Screwdriver","Bottle Opener","Can Opener","Awl","Spring-action Scissors","Saw","Wire Stripper","Electrical Crimper","Edge File"],"closed_mm":107.9},{"id":"gerber-dime","brand":"Gerber","name":"Dime","kind":"multitool","category":"multitool","summary":"Keychain multitool listing 1.5 in (38 mm) plain blade, scissors, spring pliers, tweezers; 2.75 in closed, 2.2 oz.","officialUrl":"https://www.gerbergear.com/products/dime-black-30-000469n","sources":[],"amazonQuery":"Gerber Dime multitool keychain","confidence":"low","weight_g":62,"notes":"","hasBlade":true,"discontinued":false,"attrs":{"form":"keychain-tool","lock":"other","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":38.1,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":108},"attrsUncertain":true,"edgeBasis":"blade-upper-bound","cuttingTools":[{"name":"Plain edge blade","type":"plain knife","blade_mm":38.1,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":"Maker 'Blade Length 1.5 in' (measure basis not stated). Lock not stated. Maker's 'butterfly opening' likely refers to the handles opening - unverified for the knife."},{"name":"Scissors","type":"scissors","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":"Length from pivot not published."},{"name":"Wire cutter","type":"wire cutter","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":""},{"name":"Retail package opener","type":"other","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":"Cutting slot; no dimensions."}],"tools":["Needle nose spring-loaded pliers","Wire cutter","Plain edge blade","Retail package opener","Scissors","Medium flat driver","Bottle opener","Tweezers","File"],"closed_mm":69.8},{"id":"victorinox-swisstool-spirit-x","brand":"Victorinox","name":"SwissTool Spirit X","kind":"multitool","category":"multitool","summary":"24-function pliers multitool with lockable large blade (not one-hand), scissors, saws; 4.1 in long, 7.4 oz.","officialUrl":"https://www.victorinox.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/Multi-Tools/SwissTool-Spirit-X/p/3.0224.L","sources":[],"amazonQuery":"Victorinox SwissTool Spirit X","confidence":"medium","weight_g":210,"notes":"","hasBlade":true,"discontinued":false,"attrs":{"form":"multitool","lock":"other","opening":"two-hand","edge_mm":null,"blade_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"open_mm_max":null},"attrsUncertain":false,"edgeBasis":"unknown","cuttingTools":[{"name":"Blade, large","type":"plain knife","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":"other","opening":"two-hand","notes":"Maker: 'Blade lockable: Yes', 'One hand blade: No'. Blade length not given on product page or user guide."},{"name":"Scissors","type":"scissors","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":"Length not published."},{"name":"Wood saw","type":"saw","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":""},{"name":"Metal saw","type":"saw","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":""},{"name":"Chisel 7 mm and scraper","type":"other","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":""},{"name":"Cable cover longitudinal/crossways cutters","type":"other","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":""},{"name":"Wire cutter (soft up to 40 HRc) / Hard wire cutter","type":"wire cutter","blade_mm":null,"edge_mm":null,"double_edged":false,"lock":null,"opening":null,"notes":""}],"tools":["Needle-nose pliers","Cap crimper","Wire cutter for thin and soft wire up to 40 HRc","Hard wire cutter","Blade, large","Can opener","Screwdriver 3 mm","Bottle opener","Screwdriver 6 mm","Crate opener","Wire bender","Screwdriver 2 mm","Reamer, punch","Pulling hook","Scissors","Wood saw","Metal saw","Metal file","Phillips screwdriver 1/2","Chisel 7 mm and scraper","Wire stripper and scraper","Cable cover longitudinal cutter","Cable cover crossways cutter","Lanyard hole","Coupling for corkscrew and carry clip"],"closed_mm":104.1}]}